It is in the interest of every manager that his employees feel comfortable at work. And one or two personal touches are also the most tidy for the working atmosphere Desk definitely useful, as numerous studies show. For example, the regularly updated picture of the children gives you reason to talk to your colleague about something other than just the new billing program. The small club emblem invites you to chat about the Bundesliga team's performance last weekend. As in almost all questions in life, in this case too it is the measure that makes the difference between “conducive to the atmosphere” and “detrimental to your career”.
The desk as the employee's business card
Just like with order in the workplace, it's the same thing with private items: the boss is definitely aware of the condition of the workplace and draws his conclusions from it. No superior will object if an employee puts up a plant, a few photos or a (!) fan pennant. There are exceptions here too, which new employees in particular should find out about as quickly as possible before, for example, installing a disco ball over their desk or Office chair crochet around. A possible exclusion criterion is, for example, if there is customer traffic in the office; When it comes to this topic, companies often follow their own guidelines, which of course have to be observed. And even if these are missing, it doesn't hurt to take a quick look at the department or even the supervisor's room: If the boss has private things, the colleagues have private things on them Desk, a little decoration will generally be allowed. If you want to be sure, just bring up the topic.
The office as a business card
Basically, an office, especially an open-plan office, is also a business card that says a lot about the company's character. Is there a more homely atmosphere with plenty of room for individuality or a well-styled and clearly structured working life where personal characteristics or needs are subordinated to the work schedule? Desks also allow conclusions to be drawn about the character of the employee: those who decorate their workplace discreetly and with a knack for style probably enjoy being in the office. Anyone who "garnishes" their desk with work utensils or lunch break by-catch such as mustard sachets or fast food restaurant napkins is probably in a hurry to get home. Ultimately, the required appearance also depends on the industry in which the company operates. The accounting of an insurance company will differ significantly from the creative workshop of a fashion design agency.
Also applies to the desk: the right size makes all the difference
As always, it's the right amount. Employees whose desk looks like a knick-knack shop are more likely to be classified as chaotic, unprofessional or sloppy by superiors, co-workers and possible visitors. When you have colleagues who don't have much more than a computer and a piece of paper on their desk, it's easy to think that you might be dealing with a dull, uncreative or even unproductive employee. Accordingly: the surprise egg figure armies, Matchbox car brigades or plush toy collections belong on the home shelf; your own office lamp, a family or holiday photo in a frame or a well-kept office plant on the desk. Studies have shown that a workplace designed in this way actually promotes creativity and is therefore often welcomed by superiors.
Desk decoration as a legal question
But what does it actually look like in terms of labor law: Are employees entitled to freely design their workplace? Clear yes! The issue has two sides because the supervisor's right to give instructions clashes with the employee's personal rights. For example, the boss is right when he argues with customer traffic. After all, its employees also represent the company to customers in the form of their jobs. In the open-plan office, questions of personal taste are to a lesser extent, but still clearly vulnerable. The boss is least able to interfere in the private office, which is usually never seen by customers.
Neither should he. At least that's what the authors of studies conclude, which describe that a decorated workplace can also help employees identify better with their job. Of course there are also limits, for example if someone might be bothered by the jewelry. The Playboy pinup of the month has no place on the pin board, nor does a phallic bottle opener in the pen stand or ambiguous postcards on the monitor. This is seen as sexist and therefore clearly discriminatory. If an employee complains about offensive material at the next table, the boss must intervene.
Clothing, shoes, cosmetics or handbags
Likewise, cosmetics, shoes or handbags have no place in the workplace. Of course, it's helpful to have a second wardrobe in the office and no superior will have any objection to that. However, against the storage location. Clothing should be stored somewhere out of sight. If there are no wardrobes available in the office, the desk drawer can definitely be declared a mini clothing depot. Nail polish, hand creams, toothbrushes and deodorant sprays also have no place on the desk and should be kept locked away. Other private things such as the current book that an employee is reading on the train to work or sunglasses can normally be kept on the desk surface.
And what about plants in the office?
There is essentially nothing wrong with large plants in the office (see also the article Plants in the office). Because fresh green fundamentally improves the air in the office and creates attractive visual accents that are proven to relax the eyes. There will hardly be any contemporaries who consider a plant to be unsightly. Nevertheless, the same applies here: ask beforehand. Especially in borderline cases, for example if a man-sized Yucca palm or Aunt Gertrude's inherited rubber tree needs to be brought in, it is better to ask your boss and colleagues for their consent beforehand. For flower pots that are on the floor and not on the desk, it is important to ensure that they are not in escape routes and therefore violate fire safety regulations.
Moving furniture in the office only with the boss's approval
The boundary from decorative workplace design to interior design intervention is crossed when furniture is moved. Employees are not allowed to interfere with the office design by rearranging their desk, moving their office chair to the other side or even converting a shelf into a room divider. For example, if an employee puts up an entire wall of books, this is not possible without the boss's prior permission. Incidentally, such conversion work becomes discriminatory when furniture or shelves are set up in such a way that you no longer have to see the person sitting next to you.