Workplace Challenges

Sports chatter, Twitter, cellphones: Just how much slacking is OK at the office?

Slacking etiquette

Just how much slacking is OK on the job? The answer is absolutely none, if you're talking to your manager.

CANDICE CHOI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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But if you're reading this while at work, it might be a matter you feel requires some clarification.

The Associated Press talked to some career and workplace experts about slacking etiquette.

Q: WHAT PERSONAL CHORES ARE OK AT WORK?

A: The rule of thumb is that your phone conversations shouldn't be a distraction to co-workers. So save the loud, heated arguments for another time. Otherwise, most managers will look past brief personal calls.

"They all have lives and commitments outside work, too," said Rachelle Canter, president of RJC Associates, a career counselling firm based in San Francisco.

Beyond that, the line between personal and work time has blurred considerably in recent years.

As long you're productive, occasionally checking your Facebook account shouldn't be an issue. But don't forget that impressions matter even if you're delivering top-notch work.

If you think your boss is unfairly frowning on how you spend your time, it's up to you to set the record straight. Next time you have a meeting, ask for performance feedback. Acknowledge that you sometimes take care of private matters, but that it doesn't affect your work.

In some corporate cultures, it might simply be wiser to refrain from personal chores.

Q: WHAT IF I'M CAUGHT SLACKING?

A: Even if there's nothing wrong with occasionally tending to personal tasks, it can be embarrassing if your boss walks by while you're at it. The key is not to overreact.

"It's going to be clear as a bell what you were doing. Don't try to pretend you weren't doing it," said Debra S. Magnuson, a consultant with PDI Ninth House, a leadership development firm based in Minneapolis.

After finishing a call about your new lease, for instance, calmly note how exasperating your landlord is and that you wish there was another time you could have taken care of the matter.

If your boss still seems bothered by it, casually note that you're using your lunch break to make the call or that you plan to stay late to make up for any lost time.

Ultimately, one incident shouldn't destroy your reputation if your overall performance is solid.

Q: IF MY BOSS SLACKS OFF, CAN I JOIN IN?

A: If your boss loves college football or is an avid fan of Lost, it's usually safe to assume there will be more leeway for watercooler chatter on the topic.

"But I wouldn't overdo it," said Canter of RJC Associates. "Some bosses have double standards."

Take the manager's lead on when to engage in a little slacking and when to get back to work.

Q: ARE THE RULES DIFFERENT IN A RECESSION?

A: Fear of layoffs might mean you're working harder than ever to hold onto your job these days. On the flipside, cutbacks could be sending the gossip network into a frenzy, and it's easy to get swept up in it.

"You have to be more careful than ever to really channel your frustration into doing something constructive," Canter said.