Complaining about “inappropriate” behavior that is, at worst, slightly off is also a problem. “It feels really condescending,” said Art Papas, founder of TheFit.com, a website where workers complete anonymous surveys about companies’ cultures. “Just because you’re offended that doesn’t mean you have to broadcast it.”

MESSINESS

Messiness, particularly in communal areas and shared workspaces, can breed negative judgments.

“Food that’s left to become some sort of other thing in the refrigerator is really frustrating,” said Post.

According to a recent survey from staffing and consulting firm Adecco, a majority of respondents said people are most productive when their workspace is clean, though some view messiness as a sign of being busy, and others see it as an indication of laziness.

POOR CUBICLE ETIQUETTE

In offices with few doors and lots of cubicles, etiquette with regard to odors and noise is important.

Microwaving last night’s fish dinner for lunch in your cubicle today is a no-no. And your co-workers can sense if you didn’t clean up after bicycling to the office.

But a loud talker may be the top offender. “If you need to concentrate and somebody is yapping, it can affect your work,” said Margaret Fiester, operations manager for the human-resources knowledge center at the Society for Human Resource Management.

NOT FITTING IN

It’s important to fit into an office’s culture. That can include how you dress, and what you say.

“I was in a meeting the other day and somebody dropped the S-bomb. The third time they did it, it became unprofessional,” Papas said.

There’s also a code of conduct for email. “Maybe someone is overly brusque, or is always putting urgent or cc’ing everything,” Purdy said. “Bcc is almost always a dangerous idea. Transparency is important—it prevents you from seeming sneaky. If you are bcc’ing someone to get someone else in trouble, you are being the office jerk.”