Aussies lack workplace etiquettes

According to a survey, when it comes to workplace etiquettes, Australians are among the most offensive.

When it comes to workplace etiquettes, Australians are among the most offensive, according to a new survey. The study conducted by Australian-based international office space provider Servcorp showed Americans and Britons to be the most easily insulted by lack of workplace etiquette and Aussies were found to be very rude.

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The top five most offensive workplace behaviours were not saying hello or good morning, not offering office guests a beverage, speaking loudly across the room, using swear words and taking calls on mobile phones.

Moreover, using stationery without permission and asking colleagues about their personal lives was also considered insulting. English and American businessmen were more easily offended than those in the Middle East, Japan and China. Nearly 25 percent of Oz people admitted that it was perfectly acceptable to swear.

However, it was deemed deeply offensive by majority of Japanese and Middle Easterners. In the survey, almost all Australians admitted that they would not think twice about addressing their boss by their first name, something Chinese business people found very rude.

Aussies also regularly talk loudly at work, take personal calls and ask too many personal questions, reports China Daily. "Being aware of potentially offensive behaviour is a key factor to Australian business success abroad," Taine Moufarrige, Servcorp''s executive director said in a statement. "Australians are very natural in their business style, perhaps more so than any other country in the world," she added.