Respectful Interruptions

This policy establishes guidelines for respectful communication and interruption within the office environment, aiming to maintain a productive atmosphere, honor colleagues’ focused work time, and promote effective collaboration.

  1. Interruption Awareness:
    1. Employees are encouraged to minimize interrupting colleagues during their work tasks, especially when they are engrossed in a project.
    2. Interruptions should be reserved for urgent matters that cannot be addressed through alternative means.
  2. Preferred Communication Methods:
    1. Whenever possible, assign Basecamp to-dos to your colleagues as a direct assignment, so the action item appears on their daily tasks. General courtesy is to avoid same-day scheduling unless the matter is urgent. 
    2. Do not tag colleagues with an @ symbol in a comment and expect them to reply. This is often missed due to the volume of Basecamp notifications.
    3. If a face-to-face conversation is necessary, consider scheduling a meeting to discuss the matter at a convenient time, especially for those staff members who work of a scheduled calendar. 
  3. Discretion in Interruption: Use discretion when entering another staff member’s office or workspace to avoid disrupting their concentration. If a colleague appears to be busy or focused, consider sending them an electronic message or waiting for an appropriate break.
  4. Scheduled Meetings:  Whenever possible, schedule meetings or discussions in advance to allow all parties to plan accordingly and prepare for productive interactions.
  5. Chit Chat and Socializing:
    1. Engaging in casual conversations should be done during designated break times or when both parties are not engaged in focused work. 
    2. Limit socializing during working hours to ensure productivity and minimize distractions.
    3. Casual socializing should occur in the conference room, as not to disturb the general workplace. 
  6. Respect for Others’ Time: Recognize that your colleagues’ time is valuable, and respect their work schedules and commitments. Avoid unnecessary roaming and visiting when caught up on tasks, as it may disrupt the workflow of others.
  7. Collaboration and Flexibility:Collaborative efforts should be embraced, but employees should strive to find the right balance between effective collaboration and minimizing interruptions.