Many employees like to add personal flair to their office spaces, whether it's by posting decorative artwork on cubicle walls or placing snapshots of their loved ones on their desk. But what happens when a worker's displayed interests and tastes offend colleagues?
"We don't always think that what's on our desk or in our cubicle is sending a message about us to our colleagues and to our boss or ... clients that come into our office," says Sally J. Scott, a partner at the law firm Franczek Radelet in Chicago. "You have to be conscious of how you want your boss, your client, or your customer to view you."
Racy Photos
Photos of family members and best friends are generally OK for most workplaces, says Scott. But make sure those pictures don't contain revealing, drunken, or other offensive images. "Of course, you should not have photos that are sexually suggestive, and sometimes that applies to family and significant others. You may be glad you have a hot girlfriend, but we don't need a photo to prove that she's hot," Scott adds. "Or, you may be a physically affectionate couple but we don't need to see that, either, through photographic evidence."
Proselytizing Messages
Posting an unobtrusive verse from your favorite Biblical scripture or a passage from the Quran on your cubicle wall isn't a big deal, says Scott. But hanging banners or posters that urge colleagues to join your faith is. "You really have to do a balancing test and ask, 'Is it reasonable? Is it offensive? How is it going to impact your co-workers?'" says Scott.
Goofy Figurines
Feel free to display an army of Snoopy statuettes or miniature Smurf dolls on your office desk if you manage a comic book store. But if you're a sought-after lawyer at a recognized firm, it might be smarter to keep them at home. "Do you want your clients to come into your office and form the impression ... that you are still a big fan of Hello Kitty or Superman or a similar cartoon character?" asks Scott. "That might not project the professional image that you are looking for. On the other hand, if you're in a less conservative workplace, a more creative workplace, those kind of figurines may be welcomed."
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