A serviced office is a private office that businesses and individuals can lease on a short-term basis. They are typically located in communal buildings, where other companies might be using another serviced office, and some areas, like the kitchen or lounge, are shared.
If you haven’t used a serviced office before, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with the general etiquette rules that you might be expected to follow. We highlight eight of these in this blog.
Depending on your serviced office provider, a cleaning service may be included in your package. However, that doesn’t mean you should leave your serviced office messy or dirty, simply because someone will clean it for you.
After lunch, clean up any obvious crumbs or spillages you may have left. Or, if your desk is cluttered with stationery and valuables at the end of the day, remember to put them away before you leave. This makes it much easier for the cleaners to do their jobs.
Maintaining a clean working environment is considerate, not only for the cleaners, but also for your colleagues with whom you might be sharing your serviced office, and other tenants in the building using the communal areas. Nobody wants to stumble upon empty water bottles, or slip on a banana peel, so remember to clean up after yourself when using a serviced office.
Many serviced offices nowadays are pet-friendly, meaning your furry friend is welcome to come to work with you. This can do wonders for productivity and morale.
However, don’t forget that if you do bring your pet to work, they are your responsibility and you must clean up after them. Of course, accidents can happen, but be attentive and tidy up any mess promptly.
While your individual serviced office is for your company’s use only, remember that the building is shared. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of your volume, so that you don’t disturb others.
If you need to take a private phone call, perhaps step outside of the building rather than take it in the hallway, or at your desk. Maybe set your phone to silent mode, so that it doesn’t distract anyone if it rings. Or, if you’re hosting a visitor, book a dedicated meeting room where you can talk freely, rather than having the meeting in the communal lounge, for example.
See also: Benefits of hiring a meeting room for your business
See also: Six top tips for hosting clients in a serviced office
That said, communal areas are expected to get a little noisy, especially in the mornings, when everyone’s grabbing their coffees, or at lunchtime. In that case, it’s acceptable to join in, but remember that some people might still be working.
Generally, it’s best to keep noise levels to a minimum. We’re not saying you need to tiptoe around the building all day, or whisper when talking to others, but simply being mindful of your volume, so that you don’t disturb others, is good serviced office etiquette.
We’ve mentioned that there are shared spaces within a serviced office building. When using these facilities, remember to be mindful of others.
For example, if you’ve used the coffee machine and had a spillage, wipe it up before stepping away so that the next person isn’t greeted with a dirty coffee machine. Or if you bring your lunch to work and heat it up in the microwave, try to have ‘office-approved’ food that doesn’t create a long-lasting bad smell. Generally, items like fish and eggs are a no-no.
Also, don’t hog shared facilities either. These are just a few simple ways that can help make the serviced office experience pleasant for all.
We know we keep saying it, but your business won’t be the only one in your serviced office building. So, it’s good etiquette to acknowledge other tenants and introduce yourself.
When you bump into someone in the breakout area, simply say “hello”. If the conversation takes you further, great, but a simple greeting takes very little effort and is an easy way to be polite and pleasant to your neighbours.
Also, socialising with your fellow serviced office tenants is an excellent networking opportunity. By all means, you don’t always have to talk business, you can simply have a friendly chit-chat over lunch. But should the opportunity arise, it’s a great way to build meaningful connections and share valuable professional advice.
Many of us tend to say the odd swear word during the day - and we often don’t even notice it. It can also happen at work; maybe you’ve just opened a frustrating email, or maybe you forgot to save the project you’ve been working on for hours.
Swearing can be a natural reflex, but in a serviced office, you should try to watch your language where possible. Not only is it considered good manners, but you could accidentally offend someone with excessive profanity.
Of course, a slip of the tongue could happen. If it does, simply apologise.
If you’re expecting visitors, you should be prepared. Firstly, book a meeting room in advance, to ensure that you have a suitable and dedicated space for your meeting. If you’re unsure about the room booking process, you should familiarise yourself with it by speaking to your building manager.
Secondly, a good serviced office provider will have a guest reception, where professional team members are on hand to welcome your visitors and guide them to their destination. If your provider offers this service, be sure to notify the reception team about your expected visitors, and give them any instructions they might need to facilitate a quick and smooth greeting.
Lastly, if you’re due to meet with someone, try to be punctual. Don’t leave your visitors waiting around. Simply put, be prepared when hosting visitors.
It can be tempting to dress for comfort in a serviced office, but don’t forget that it is still a workplace. A smart/casual dress code is normally acceptable, like chinos and a shirt. Even jeans and a T-shirt are absolutely fine.
Feel free to dress up a bit more if you wish (maybe it’s a 3-piece suit kind of day?). Whatever you do, don’t do the opposite and dress down too much. We’re talking pyjamas and Crocs.
If in doubt, check your serviced office contract, or speak to your building manager about any possible dress codes that might be in place. If there aren’t, we don’t recommend you run with it; stick to a reasonably professional office outfit.
We hope you feel well-prepared for using a serviced office after reading this blog. If you’re ready to book, get in touch with the team at 71-75 for a tour of our modern, high-quality, and fully-equipped serviced offices in the heart of London. You can reach them on 020 3148 8770, enquiries@71-75.co.uk, or via our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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