You might not know Debrett's - or, perhaps I misjudge your poise and graces and you do; the London-based firm has been the standard-bearer for etiquette since 1769. In fact, you can read over 2,000 pages on the proper way to carry yourself on their website, or you could read their smaller book, The A-Z of modern manners. Perhaps Kitty Flanagan's rules are more your style, but there's no denying Debrett's know their stuff - from the appropriate tie knot for any occasion to whether you ought to be photographing food. They're to etiquette like, well, Poly is to high quality audio and video hardware solutions for offices, individuals, and anything in between.

Hybrid work is fully entrenched, but sometimes its greatest proponents can be the strongest arguments against it by virtue of their hybrid working behaviours.

“With people increasingly splitting their time between the office and home, how we conduct ourselves at work has changed drastically,” says Debrett's etiquette advisor Liz Wyse, “It’s clear that hybrid working offers many benefits, including greater flexibility and a better work-life balance. However, that’s not an excuse to let etiquette slip, and standards should stay the same regardless of where you’re working from. What’s the dress code when working from home? How do you eliminate distractions and present a professional façade online? This guide seeks to answer these questions so that both staff and employers can get the most out of a hybrid working arrangement."

Thus the Poly guide to hybrid work etiquette was born!

The comprehensive guide offers insight into everything from how to behave on video calls and how to dress yourself and your background, to body language tips and the importance of eliminating distractions.

Key takeaways include these - and how many are you currently following, or neglecting?

1. Give a Royal wave: Ending a video call can sometimes feel a bit awkward. To make calls feel more friendly and inclusive, you can soften the abrupt finality of pressing ‘End call’ by giving colleagues a wave goodbye.
2. Avoid video motion sickness: Stay in a fixed position during video calls. Carrying your device while you answer the door or wander around the office during video calls risks giving your colleagues a bad dose of motion sickness.
3. No meeting munchies: You should try to avoid eating – you don’t want people to focus on the contents of your lunch rather than what you’re saying. It’s preferable to eat before you join a meeting.
4. Beware the danger of diversions: Your home is full of diversions. Be it domestic chores, the garden, or visits to the fridge – it’s all too easy to wander around doing jobs or making snacks, which ultimately distracts you from your job and impacts your productivity.
5. Eliminate virtual background clutter: Indulge in a little set-dressing before your call. Evaluate your video background. Try to eliminate chaotic bookshelves, discarded clothing, empty takeaway containers, and distracting artwork. You want your colleagues to focus on you, not your background.
6. Say no to stoic sickness syndrome: Don’t struggle into the office if you’ve got a cough or cold or anything contagious. Nobody will applaud your stoicism.
7. No meeting multitasking: It’s inappropriate to multitask during meetings – for example looking at your phone. It is also very bad form to carry on working while on a call; everybody will realise your mind is elsewhere and hear the incriminating clatter of your keyboard.
8. Mute your workmates: Noise in the office can be distracting when joining calls. It’s quite acceptable to politely ask your colleagues to keep their voices down and to turn down their radio or music.
9. Dress for success: People will choose to wear more relaxed, comfortable clothing when working from home, but it’s important to be aware of the psychological impact of truly letting yourself go. Aim to dress as if you are in the room with other meeting attendees. 
10. Embrace long pauses: Don’t be alarmed by long pauses during meetings and scramble to fill them with chatter; they are an invaluable way of giving people space to interject or expound.

“The shift to hybrid work was so abrupt, we’ve not really taken stock of how our behaviour should change to accommodate this new way of working,” says Poly APJ senior director hybrid work solutions and peripherals Bill Zeng. “Should we be amending our behaviour to make hybrid work and hybrid meetings feel more normal? For example, waving at the end of calls or having neutral virtual backgrounds. Thinking about how to make hybrid meetings feel more natural will create an equal meeting experience, whether people are in the room or dialling in from home.

“Delivering an equal experience can come down to employers providing staff with the right technology and training,” Zeng adds. “Managers should be trained on how to make hybrid meetings inclusive. And instead of giving everyone the same equipment, organisations should understand how people like to work and collaborate, and the spaces they use – including their home office setup. This can be used to tailor the equipment provided, allowing employees to look their best, be heard, feel included, and avoid distraction, irrespective of where they’re working from.”

Get your own copy here and amaze your managers, charm your co-workers, and lead the charge for the best in hybrid work practices in your organisation.