Admit It, You Sent A Work Email From The Bathroom

Admit it, you sent a work email from the bathroom this morning.

If you did you, aren't alone. About one in five professionals admit to doing work in the restroom. This newly released "Life at Home" report comes to us by Swedish furniture maker Ikea. The report says that between 16 and 17 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed in New York City admitted to working in the bathroom. Ikea surveyed roughly 8,000 people in eight cities globally on diverse morning habits including getting ready, time spent working, cuddling and reflecting.

The Today Show covered the study and several of the anchors admitted to sending emails from the loo. Natalie Morales and Carson Daly readily admitted to doing work from the toilet, and Matt Lauer confessed to possibly sending an email from the washroom. Daly also filled the audience in on his bathroom conference call tips.

Going to the work bathroom can be challenging enough. The next time you get an email from a client or your boss, you've got to wonder if that was typed out in the bathroom. You might also give people a second glance if they head to the restroom with smartphone in hand.

At least Manhattanites aren't the only professionals bringing their work to the loo. In Stockholm, 17 percent of those surveyed also admitted to working in the bathroom. In London, Moscow, Mumbai, Berlin and Shanghai, 10 percent did.

Ikea's report findings also included:

• New Yorkers spend 16 minutes per day grooming. That's nearly 2 additional minutes more compared to other cities surveyed. No one said being beautiful was an easy task.
• About 56 percent of people from NYC do not consider themselves "morning people." This explains the need for the venti-size coffee in the morning.
• 57 percent of New Yorker's think self-reflection is important. Remember that the next time someone steals your cab or steps on your toe on the subway.

Other interesting gems include the fact that people in the Big Apple tend not to eat breakfast at home, compared to the other cities surveyed. Yet when they do sit down to a meal, they are more likely to use their PDA than any other city (aside from Moscow).

Before you type out your morning agenda from your work stall, make sure to Purell before and after you hit send.

Online Etiquette 101

 

Imagine a time before desktop computers, when instead of sending a quick question via instant messenger, co-workers actually walked to each other’s offices to talk. Or, instead of shooting off a quick e-mail, they had to pick up the telephone to communicate with a client. Gasp! Yes, technology streamlines our communication. But as the Web speeds up our interactions, we lose the formality and professionalism that used to impress clients, bosses, and employees. These easy tips can help you channel your inner Emily Post—without sacrificing the ease of the Internet.

E-mail with care. Consider your audience before pressing “send.” If it’s a professional e-mail, remove all instant messaging lingo or abbreviations. If you used an emoticon to convey your message, revise the text until you can get the meaning across without a smiley. Run a quick spell-and-grammar check. Also, be conscious of who you copy and reply to with e-mails. Be especially wary of the “reply to all” option, which is overused and clogs in-boxes.

Be polite. Like everyone else in America, you want to see the latest YouTube video everyone’s forwarding. But be courteous with any Web-based media. Watching videos, sending or downloading large files, and streaming music quickly slow down the Internet for your entire office. If you must catch up on your laughing babies or sports tournaments, time it during slower Internet traffic periods, like before nine or between noon and one. And always wear headphones.

Network nicely. Your online image is squeaky-clean, right? No spring break pictures on your Facebook page, and only business-related details on your LinkedIn profile? But what about the comments you post on others’ blogs or profiles? Posts often connect back to your page or e-mail account, so any inappropriate comment will link back to you. But beyond that, if you comment on a friend’s Facebook page about her table-dancing skills, you’ve sullied the online image she’s probably worked hard to maintain. Unless you would want the same comment to appear on your own profile, don’t post it on someone else’s.

Add a personal touch. With the speed and convenience of e-mail and messengers, it’s easy to forget the basic cornerstone of etiquette: personal contact. Instead of writing a one-line “thanks” e-mail, try jotting off a quick note and dropping it in the mail. If a client places a big order or a consultant delivers a stellar project, pick up the phone and let them know that you appreciate working with them. Both the handwritten note and the personal call make a greater impact than a standard e-mail.