• Conference call rules you must know

Use the receiver unless you must have your team members in the conference call. Make sure others around are not getting disturbed, or use it only late in the evening when the office has emptied out. Also avoid chatting in groups around others' desks. If you wish to convey something, especially unpleasant, use a closed room to avoid any embarrassment.

As Jagdeep Kaur, Senior Curriculum Developer, Oracle, says, "Working in open spaces becomes very uncomfortable when one is dealing with confidential content on one's computer. You never know when who might see what, especially if you have a nosy neighbour. This puts a strain on you to be alert and on your guard at all times, which becomes very inconvenient and tiring after a while."

• Don't hand out your business cards like freebies

Pragya concurs, particularly with regard to lunchtime. "There's the thing about watching people eat their lunches at their desks, or being watched eating one's own lunch. We live a large chunk of our lives in our offices, at our desks, and it really affects our quality of life when nothing we do or say in those hours is private."

Some elements, especially social butterflies, are in constant need to touch base with people and can end up at anybody's work station without considering the fact that others might be busy and not in the mood to spend time gossiping. It can be is very annoying when people land up at your desk without any intimation while you are trying to either meet a deadline or focus on your work.

Avers Jagdeep, "I have always enjoyed working in open spaces and have never found myself yearning for a cabin or closed private space of my own. In offices, I like being able to just turn around and speak to my neighbours. Or, just stand up and look around and just gesture to attract their attention whenever I need help. Proximity also helps team members bond with each other."

• How to become indispensable at the office

Suniti too feels that open offices make communication and supervision easier. "Issues and problems reach the management very fast as they too are part of the central office space, and therefore solutions are arrived at faster."

A few other dos and don'ts:

Avoid strong perfumes/deodorants: Some colleagues might be allergic to strong smells and odours. It's better to keep it light and soft. Also be mindful of food and feet odours that are far from pleasant and hang in the confines of air-conditioned environment for a while.

Health and hygiene: When you sneeze or cough, cover you mouth or use a tissue. Do not leave used tissues lying around to spread germs and diseases.

Sit up straight: Slouching indicates laziness and disinterest in work. And, that's the last thing you would want your colleagues and bosses to perceive.

Keep your soft board non-offensive: Watch what you put up on the soft board so that your colleagues are not offended. Avoid jokes or cartoons of a sexual, racist or political nature, these could stir up tensions or make colleagues uncomfortable.

Don't wriggle your way through work stations: Use the designated passages/ aisles instead of wriggling and maneuvering your way through people's work stations and chairs. A little discipline never hurt anyone.