Meal Etiquette
Why is it important to practice hand hygiene before sitting down to eat your lunch at work?
Correct answer (or similar): To clean your hands from any pathogens (germs, bacteria, viruses, etc.) or contaminant (dirt, chemical, etc.) that you may have been exposed to from performing your work duties or high traffic surfaces in the workplace (elevator button, door handles, etc.) before handling food or having your hands near your mouth [personal protection].
*Note: Hand hygiene is also recommended after eating as well for similar reason. Food residue, saliva, etc. may transfer from you to other surfaces.
Fill in the blank. _______ is unwanted or unwelcome behavior toward another person causing distress or safety concerns, and is prohibited by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
a) confidentiality
b) leave of absence
c) favoritism
d) harassment
D! Harassment!
True or False? Box breathing is a specialized breathing technique that allows the user to lift heavier boxes than they typically could.
FALSE!
Box breathing is a deep breathing technique that helps to slow our breathing by inhaling and exhaling along the 4 sides of an imaged square (or "box").
True or False? When in doubt about whether or not evacuate, play it safe and evacuate!
True!
What is a "transferable skill?"
Transferable skills are any skill that can easily be transferred from one job to the next. It is a skill that can be used at most or many jobs. Soft and hard skills can both be transferable. However, almost all soft skills are transferable, thus are sometimes called “transferable skills.” On the other, hand, hard skills are less likely to be transferable.
True or False: When participating in a team event in which food is present, you should eat as much as you can because, well - FREE FOOD!
False!
Keep the goal in mind: team building! Use the time to connect with your team (network). It is also very important to practice self-awareness and courtesy. Continue to practice your skills (e.g. professionalism, positive attitude, decision-making, shared space, etc.) as you are still at work! Don't pile your plate as dishes are intended to be shared amongst everyone and we want to ensure food is left for others.
Reasons to avoid references and inside jokes at work include:
a) They may exclude or alienate
b) They may be misinterpreted or cause offense
c) They may be unprofessional
d) All of the above
D! All of the above!
Reasons to avoid references and inside jokes at work include: they may exclude or alienate, they may be misinterpreted or cause offense, they may be unprofessional, or they may undermine authority and collaboration (or simply distract from our tasks!).
What is a microbreak?
Correct Answer: A short break (often 2 minutes or less).
A microbreak can acts a quick reset to help calm our nerves, get refocused, or prevent sensory overloud. It make look like stepping into a restroom for quickly wash our hands or step outside to breathe in some fresh air.
Which of the following is not PPE?
a) gloves
b) clipboard
c) steel-toed shoes
d) googles/ face shield
B! Clipboard!
While both hard and soft skills are valuable, which kind of skills is generally harder to teach at work and therefore generally more desirable to employers?
Soft skills!
Employers are looking for workers with both types of skills; however, overwhelming they prefer that employees have a solid set of soft skills. This is because soft skills are not easily learned or taught at work. It can be uncomfortable and time consuming to teach an employee soft skills. We tend to learn many of our soft skills early in our life. Also, it takes a long period of time to learn and develop soft skills. For instance, it is not easy to teach a person to have a strong work ethic or to be a team player on the job.
True or False: Team events such as potlucks are really not that important, so it's best to decline invitations to events like these.
FALSE! Team building events such as potlucks, luncheons, celebrations (birthday, work anniversaries, etc.) are important opportunities to form positive connections with your team, boost team morale, practice social/ communication skills, and network. You demonstrate that you are a team player, have a positive attitude, and are happy/ grateful to be a part of the team by attending these events when invited. Whenever possible, it is recommended that you do participate in team events!
Sort the below conversation topics into inappropriate vs. "safe-for-work" categories.
Health diagnoses, religion, food, workplace complaints, weekend plans, weather
Inappropriate: Health diagnoses, religion, workplace complaints (these topics are too personal, unprofessional, or overly negative)
Safe-for-work: Food, weekend plans, weather (these topics are generally safe to talk about a work, but still practice good discretion)
Fill in the blank: ______ mechanisms are strategies that can be helpful in reducing stress.
Coping!
Fill in the blank. Drop, _____, & hold on until the shaking from an earthquake stops.
cover
Which of the following is a hard skill?
a) Time Management
b) Non-Verbal Communication
c) Positive Attitude
d) Neat handwriting
D! Neat writing!
Give two examples of ways in which we practice being courteous of shared space during our lunch break?
Correct answers include: avoiding shouting/ laughing loudly, engaging others in conversation, sharing space in the conversation (stacking/ turn taking) so others can share, cleaning up after yourself/ not leaving a mess, being respectful/ not getting too comfortable (feet on tables or chairs), and if you do play audio on your phone, using a low/ quiet volume so as not to disrupt others.
True or False. Some individuals may feel uncomfortable when receiving compliments and may find it harassing (unwelcome and unwanted).
True!
Compliments may make some people uncomfortable especially if the compliments are repetitive, lengthy, too personal, or based on physical appearance. Others may misinterpret the intent of the person giving the compliments (e.g. wondering if they are staring, flirting, teasing, etc.). If you do give a compliment, make it "short and sweet" and do not focus on personal traits such as appearance.
Name at least 3 coping strategies that you can use while at work.
Any of the following: Deep Breathing, Box Breathing, 5 4 3 2 1 Grounding, Smiling, Practicing Gratitude, Taking a MicroBreak, Washing Hands/Face, Thinking of something positive or funny, Thinking of a song, Stating a positive affirmation, Using a fidget ring, Reframing negative thoughts, Practicing Kindness, etc.
Some slip, trip, & fall incidents are caused by "human factors." Name at least two examples of "human factors."
Any of the following: being on your phone while walking, multitasking, not paying attention/ daydreaming, rushing/ moving faster than is safe, taking shortcuts/ not using designated walkways, not being aware of your surroundings/ poor situational awareness, tiredness/ fatigue, becoming distracted/ unfocused, carrying something that obstructs your view
Name at least 3 non-verbal forms of communication that demonstrates professionalism in the workplace.
Possible answers:
1) Professional appearance/ Good hygiene
2) Eye Contact
3) Positive facial expressions/ smiling
4) Good posture/ standing or sitting up straight
5) Maintaining a good and safe pace (not too fast, not too slow)
6) Using an open posture or open hand gestures
7) Nodding to demonstrate active listening
Name 3 skills that we practice during our lunch break.
Correct answers include: shared space, personal space, professionalism, time & place, hygiene, safety, situational awareness, independence, communication, decision-making, and time management.
If the skill does not appear above, credit may be given if you can give an example.
Many workplaces have policies about personal relationships between employees along with consequences for not disclosing these. The goal of the policy is to prevent conflicts of interest, favoritism, and legal issues. What is this kind of policy called?
a) Non-Fraternization Policy
b) Non-Solicitation Agreement
c) Non-Disparagement Clause
d) Non-Disclosure Agreement
A! Non-Fraternization Policy!
What are the 5 senses involved in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding?
Correct answer: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste!
To use this technique, take a moment to identify... 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you feel, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
What percent of slip, trip, & fall incidents are caused by human factors?
a) 12%
b) 37 %
c) 54 %
d) 86%
C! 54%!
Adaptability is the ability of being able to effectively handle - or cope - with change. When we are adaptable, we can readily adjust to changing situations, new information, or unexpected obstacles all while maintaining a positive attitude and a spirit of team collaboration.
Adaptability is important because changes happen at work! Policies are updated, requirements change, staffing fluctuates, new best practices or technologies are developed, new responsibilities are assumed, etc.