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NextGen Magazine

 
 

Etiquette Expert: Younger Workers’ Career Progression Depends on Good Manners, Too

By:
S.J. Steinhardt
Published Date:
Apr 2, 2024

Gen Z workers are often criticized for not practicing good workplace etiquette, and this could hinder their career progression, Business Insider reported.

To get ahead, young workers to be respectful and educate themselves on the rules of business etiquette, etiquette expert Myka Meier advised. Such workplace etiquette could include being mindful about how you present yourself and the kind of foods you eat for lunch, she said in an interview — could be essential to your career progression, according to an etiquette expert. 

The founder of Beaumont Etiquette, which offers business etiquette courses to companies and individuals and teaches soft skills like communication, dining etiquette, professional development, dressing, and grooming, Meier said that, "If you are not practicing good etiquette, your career, in my opinion, will not progress half as fast as if you are practicing good workplace etiquette.”

Being new to the workplace, this cohort has been criticized for acting or dressing inappropriately in the office, or being too open on social media. One reason for this is perhaps due to their being new to the office workplace after studying remotely during the pandemic.

"I didn't grow up with etiquette, and I took it upon myself to educate myself when I realized that there was an issue when I didn't know certain protocols and people were reacting badly to me," said Meier, advising younger generations to do the same by reading books on etiquette.

The number one rule is showing respect to other people, she said. Others include arriving early for meetings, dressing professionally, and eating with good manners.

Meier said some workers have forgotten how to conduct themselves in the office since the pandemic. Three of the Big Four firms—PWC, Deloitte, and KPMG—offer Gen Z recruits classes on soft skills such as how to send emails, what to wear to the office, and how to work in a team.

"There are some business practices and standards that will remain business practices and standards in certain industries, and Gen Z will need to conform to some of those to be successful in those specific fields," said Meier.