Social Norms In The Workplace

Social norms are the standard of behavior that a culture accepts to be appropriate. They also aren’t something we think about until we travel to a foreign place or until they are violated. There are social norms about everything - eating, personal space, public etiquette, interactions with others in general, answering the phone, and just about any other facet of our daily lives. When these norms are violated, it is immediately noticed. We are often confused, or even shocked, when another person steps outside of what our culture deems as acceptable. For instance, Americans value time as a virtue. If we aren’t on time for work, we could lose our jobs. If we’re late to an event, people will talk about it. If others waste our time, we tend to get irritated, impatient, and frustrated. …show more content…
They reported that two ladies in the elevator smirked at each other and that an older gentleman got red in the face. The gentleman may have already been late for his appointment and having all the buttons pushed may have made him later, or he could have been a doctor wanting to go home, or maybe he was visiting someone who was very ill and wanted to see them as soon as possible. Whatever the reason he was in the elevator was, it was clear that having his time wasted had upset him a great deal. One could also argue that the two women smirking at each other were also unimpressed but more tolerable to standing in the elevator longer than they needed to. My classmate said that they felt odd and guilty pressing all the buttons, showing that it’s just as uncomfortable to break social norms as it is to have them be