Some Etiquettes to Note

Taken from AsiaOne.

GOSSIP is normally viral in an office elevator, so be sensitive and careful.

These are simple rules to follow. Some may laugh and relate to them, others may find them useless, but bear in mind that when other people are using the same services, it is very important to be considerate of others. After all, that is what etiquette is all about—making others comfortable.

1. Let everyone out of the elevator before you enter. In office buildings, I see people scampering for the elevator without letting those already inside come out first. Wait for them to get out—not only is this the polite thing to do; it is also the safe thing.

2. Try to fall in line. This may be a truly idealistic request. On a recent trip to Japan, I was so happy to see people falling in line to enter the elevator. Correctly so, if you were there first, you should be the first to get in. Pushing and shoving are regular occurrences in busy office buildings and yes, even hospitals.

If building administrators can implement this, things would go much smoother. The line is formed on the right side facing the elevator so that the left side is free to allow those inside the elevator to step out.

3. Enter towards the back of the elevator, allow the others to enter, then press the floor. People tend to crowd around the console when they enter elevators. You can simply ask the person nearest the console to press the desired floor.

4. If the person behind you is about to exit the elevator, move out, hold the door open and allow the person out. Usually there is this person in the back who cannot even step out because people do not move, much less allow the person behind to get out.

5. As much as possible, keep the conversation to a minimum. There are other people in the elevator with you, so keep the conversations down. Gossip is normally viral in an office elevator, so be sensitive to this.

6. Do not sneeze or cough in this very contained environment.

7. If you are going up or down just one floor, try to take the stairs if possible.

8. Gentlemen, where are you? Have the days of gentlemanly behavior passed? Hold the door open and let the ladies in or out of the elevator. I actually saw a man shove past a girl just to get out of the elevator. Remember, each action is always a reflection of who you are.


Escalators

1. Children should be kept away from escalators. This is not a play area, yet in malls you see kids playing around the escalator area, either trying to go up downward escalators or playing with moving handles.

2. When riding the escalator, allow the person in front of you to step onto the escalator first. This sounds amusing, but I have been pushed from behind so many times because I admittedly get on an escalator rather slowly. Still, this does not give people license to push you from behind. Cutting someone who is about to go on an escalator is not only rude, but also very dangerous.

3. Stay on the right hand side. This is to give space to people who wish to climb up or down. The same goes for walkalators in airports. Stay on the right side so people can walk on the left hand side. Although in some countries it is the opposite, just bear that in mind.

4. If you are on the escalator with a friend or friends, do not congregate at the foot or at the entry point of the escalators. This happens a lot in malls, where people wait for family members and friends to get off at the foot of the escalator, leaving the others with no place to move forward.