An increase in bad manners means good business for the etiquette experts
Poor etiquette on the rise
If you've ever overheard a coworker's loud cell phone conversation or become nauseated* watching one talk with a mouthful of food， you are not alone. Etiquette experts say a lack of social graces*and general rudeness has become all too common in the workplace.
The line* between what is acceptable and unacceptable is blurring*as a new generation of employees enters the work force， bringing with it their use of personal technology-cell phones and MySpace， for example-and a more casual attitude and fashion sense.
The boon in bad manners has been good for the etiquette business， whose experts are finding their talents in demand. Businesses are also discovering that polishing their employees' behavior pays off in increased productivity， better sales and a more cooperative workplace.
Maria Everding， who has taught etiquette for more than 20 years， trains and certifies at least 10 consultants a mouth， up from an average of four just two years ago.
"There is definitely job security for me，" Everding said.
A welcomed trend
The push for a more civil and refined workplace is also taking hold in California's San Joaquin Valley， where several companies provide business-etiquette training. Often they've hired to provide one-on-one coaching as well as to help companies become more professional. Advice is given on everything from table manners to how to dress appropriately.
The trend doesn't surprise business management professor Julie Olson-Buchanan， who says companies want to reestablish the ground rules for how employees and managers conduct themselves at work， especially with the use of technology.
Twenty years ago most people would have frowned at someone carrying on a loud personal conversation while in line at the grocery store. But cell phone conversations go on all the time now， including at work.
"There has been a slow erosion* of what is OK and what is not OK，" Olson-Buchanan said.
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Vocabulary Focus
nauseated （adj）—— feeling as if you are going to vomit
the line is blurred （idiom）—— the difference between two things is unclear
ground rules（n phr）—— the principles on which future behavior is based
erosion （n）—— the weakening done to something by a series of gradual losses of parts of it
Specialized Terms
etiquette （n）—— 禮節(jié)；規(guī)矩 the set of rules or customs which control accepted behavior in particular social groups or social situations
social graces（n phr）—— 社交禮儀 a manner or way that is considered polite
boon （n）—— 極為有用之物 something that is very helpful
Poor etiquette on the rise
If you've ever overheard a coworker's loud cell phone conversation or become nauseated* watching one talk with a mouthful of food， you are not alone. Etiquette experts say a lack of social graces*and general rudeness has become all too common in the workplace.
The line* between what is acceptable and unacceptable is blurring*as a new generation of employees enters the work force， bringing with it their use of personal technology-cell phones and MySpace， for example-and a more casual attitude and fashion sense.
The boon in bad manners has been good for the etiquette business， whose experts are finding their talents in demand. Businesses are also discovering that polishing their employees' behavior pays off in increased productivity， better sales and a more cooperative workplace.
Maria Everding， who has taught etiquette for more than 20 years， trains and certifies at least 10 consultants a mouth， up from an average of four just two years ago.
"There is definitely job security for me，" Everding said.
A welcomed trend
The push for a more civil and refined workplace is also taking hold in California's San Joaquin Valley， where several companies provide business-etiquette training. Often they've hired to provide one-on-one coaching as well as to help companies become more professional. Advice is given on everything from table manners to how to dress appropriately.
The trend doesn't surprise business management professor Julie Olson-Buchanan， who says companies want to reestablish the ground rules for how employees and managers conduct themselves at work， especially with the use of technology.
Twenty years ago most people would have frowned at someone carrying on a loud personal conversation while in line at the grocery store. But cell phone conversations go on all the time now， including at work.
"There has been a slow erosion* of what is OK and what is not OK，" Olson-Buchanan said.
------------------------------
Vocabulary Focus
nauseated （adj）—— feeling as if you are going to vomit
the line is blurred （idiom）—— the difference between two things is unclear
ground rules（n phr）—— the principles on which future behavior is based
erosion （n）—— the weakening done to something by a series of gradual losses of parts of it
Specialized Terms
etiquette （n）—— 禮節(jié)；規(guī)矩 the set of rules or customs which control accepted behavior in particular social groups or social situations
social graces（n phr）—— 社交禮儀 a manner or way that is considered polite
boon （n）—— 極為有用之物 something that is very helpful