The New Corporate Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of Smart Working (That No One Will Tell You)
Ah, smart working! The revolution that promised us freedom, flexibility, and the ability to attend important meetings while wearing pajama pants. And in part, it was so. But then came hybrid work, the "gradual return," and with them a new, silent set of behavioral rules, an unwritten etiquette that we all learn the hard way, between a forgotten open microphone and a Wi-Fi connection that decides to abandon us at the best moment.
If you too feel like a pioneer (or a victim?) of this new era of work, here are some of the fundamental (and absolutely unofficial) rules that you have probably already learned to break... er, following:
Rule #1: The Video Call "Mullet" Outfit (Business Above, Comfort Below)
It's the 2025 uniform. On top, the pressed shirt (or that Deliverable T-shirt that makes you look like you have a modicum of style). On the bottom, the realm of the unknown: sweatpants, shorts, mismatched socks... as long as the webcam only records from the torso up. Bonus: the ability to look awake and operational at 9:00 AM after getting up at 8:55. An art.
Rule #2: The Holy Grail of the Mute Button
That little barred microphone is your best friend. It doesn't just hide the noise of your neighbor using the drill at 10 in the morning or your dog barking at the cosmic void. It's a protective shield for your silent curses, for the sarcastic comments you would make out loud if you were in the office, for the noise of the packets of crisps being opened during soporific presentations. The only real challenge? Remembering to take it off when you have to speak, so as not to become yet another protagonist of the refrain: "Mario, you're on mute!" .
When your voice is blocked, let your shirt do the talking. Check out our Meeting Survival Kit .
Rule #3: The Domestic Bermuda Triangle: Desk - Sofa - Refrigerator
Working from home, the boundaries between workspace and living space become... fluid. Your day often unfolds in a mystical triangle between your workstation (desk or kitchen table), the sofa (for those "strategic" breaks) and, above all, the refrigerator. The latter becomes your main colleague, the most powerful source of distraction, the place where good intentions about your diet go to die between a yogurt and the leftovers from yesterday's dinner.
Rule #4: Green Dot Anxiety (Online Status Syndrome)
That little status light on Teams, Slack, or any other corporate messaging platform has become the new invisible supervisor. If it turns yellow (“Inactive”) for more than 3 minutes and 27 seconds, panic sets in: “Will they think I’m asleep? That I ran away? That I’m watching cat videos?” This leads to bizarre behaviors like moving your mouse around for no reason or seriously considering software that does it for you. All to appear perpetually “Available” (even if mentally you’re already in weekend mode).
Rule #5: Reverse Culture Shock: Returning to the Office
The days designated for the pilgrimage to the office in the hybrid era. Rediscover forgotten noises: keyboards tapping in unison (or almost), phones ringing, the colleague recounting the details of his latest colonoscopy out loud. You fight to conquer a free meeting room, long for the comfort of your ergonomic chair (paid for by you), and wonder why you have to wear closed shoes. Ah, the buzz of the office! Sometimes, though, a decent coffee with a (real) colleague is priceless.
Conclusion
Flexible working is an adventure: a fascinating mix of regained freedom, new digital anxieties, and the eternal struggle against domestic distractions. There is no perfect manual, only constant adaptation. The important thing is to maintain a sense of humor and, perhaps, wear something that reminds you not to take yourself (and work) too seriously.
What’s your favorite (or most hated) unwritten rule of this new way of working? Leave it in the comments!