WE spend so many hours at the workplace, that it is very easy to forget sometimes that it’s not our home and therefore we cannot take the same liberties we are guaranteed in our private abode.

The saying that there is a time and a place for everything holds true when we contemplate just what is allowable on the job. Although more companies are shifting the focus from the observance of workplace protocol to employees’ level of productivity, there are just some things that will never ever pass as acceptable. Here are a few:

1.Wearing curlers, bed slippers and baring tops

“No matter how long you’ve been with the company, how “cool” your boss is, how much sleep you got the night before, or how cold or hot it is outside, you should always maintain a clean, workplace-appropriate appearance. Even if you work in a relatively casual office, you should still make the effort to wear clean clothes and have well-groomed hair,” advised Careerbuilder.com. Your boss doesn’t need to know how you look before you retire to bed.

2. Shopping for toiletries and groceries in the office pantry

Times are tough and it is very depressing to look at the grocery receipt these days, but this is no justification for stealing from the company’s stock. The tissue, paper towels, liquid soap, sugar and other grocery items locked away in the office pantry is meant to be used at work and not necessarily for providing a meal for you and your six children at home.

3. Hitting on your boss or your employee

Not everyone will object to you trying to feed them a pick-up line. It can be flattering and is a good way to boost the ego, but acceptance on their part doesn’t necessarily make it right. Even if your co-worker or your boss does fall prey to your advances, your value as a worker will no doubt play second fiddle to your potential sexual capabilities. Before you decide to get slick, you might also want to have your lawyer on stand-by to defend you against any possible sexual harassment lawsuits.

4. Taking the dispute with your husband to the job

No one needs to hear you arguing with your spouse about your night-time extra-curricular activities. Even if your workplace is operated from a container up in Blue Mountain Peak, some amount of discretion and decorum is still required. Remember you not only have your co-workers to consider, but also your customers.

5. Transforming the office into your personal printery

Some bosses are nice enough to allow their employees to print personal documents such as their application forms for school, passports or visas. However, it is not wise to abuse these privileges by printing entire books, wedding invites or flyers for your child’s sweet 16 birthday bash. There is no way for you to concentrate on the job you are being paid for when you start a business from printing whole textbooks for your friends at a cost.

6. Feed your appetite for reality TV and talk shows

It’s becoming increasingly easier to watch daytime television from your computer screen, but this is a hobby best enjoyed from your living room couch instead of your office chair. Even worse is to subject your co-workers to all the drama because you don’t want to ruin the effect by putting the computer on mute or plugging in a headphone.

7. Applying make-up at your work station

Most, if not all workplaces have a bathroom and that’s where you are expected to titivate. Sure, nothing is wrong with applying some lip gloss to counteract dry lips in the midst of typing up a memo, but just imagine the impression that could easily be formed by one of the company’s clients upon seeing you applying mascara, face powder and eye-shadow while touring your office.

— Nadine Wilson