While technology is widely embraced by professionals today, significant discrepancies exist between its intended use and its application in the workplace. Simply put, some coworkers have no tech etiquette.

For many, the Information Age has brought the American professional workforce to a point of dependency and, let’s face it, rudeness. Between e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, social-networking sites — all accessed via one little, hand-held mobile device — these tech tools, gadgets and constant media links we “can’t live without” are the very same things that can have disastrous consequences on our work lives and even our careers.

“Etiquette breaches, such as paying more attention to your smartphone than the people you’re meeting with, can make others feel less important and cause you to miss information,” Brett Good, senior district president of Robert Half International, recently said. “Other mistakes, such as sending a confidential e-mail to the wrong person or impulsively posting an offensive comment on Facebook or Twitter, can have more serious, career-impacting consequences.”

In a recent survey of 650 human resources managers, Robert Half found that three out of four (76 percent) said breaches of technology etiquette can affect a person’s career prospects.

Today workplace missteps can receive broad exposure and yield lousy consequences. As such, Robert Half identified five common types of tech-etiquette offenders and how to ensure you aren’t one of them.

1. The Venter — An indiscreet individual who never misses an opportunity to complain about a bad work situation, often documenting job-related gripes and groans on Facebook, Twitter and his or her personal blog. Their e-mail also tends to take a negative tone.

   Suggestion: Look on the bright side and stay positive, especially with any information you post online. Sticky or unpleasant situations are better discussed offline and in private.

2. The Noise Polluter — Between music blaring from the computer, loud ring tones and public broadcasts of personal conversations, it’s impossible to concentrate when he or she is nearby. Whether in a meeting, at a colleague’s desk or at his or her own desk, this person pollutes the workplace with unwanted loudness, oblivious to others.

   Suggestion: Keep office noise at a minimum by using headphones if you listen to music on the job, setting your cellphone to silent mode in the workplace and holding personal conversations behind closed doors.

3. The Cryptic Communicator — Someone who relies on typing shorthand for every type of correspondence. Informal abbreviations, poor punctuation, spelling and grammatical goofs leave people exasperated and pleading for clarification.

   Suggestion: Slow down, and take it easy on unclear jargon and abbreviations. Spending more time on your communication can make messages easier to decipher.

4. The Pop-Up Artist — An online chatter who insists on sending you a flurry of instant messages (IMs) throughout the day, subjecting the rest of us to the pings and pops of incoming IMs.

   Suggestion: IMs are fine for quick volleys of conversation, but use them properly and judiciously. Don’t expect that everyone will want to “chat’ with you; for many, e-mail is immediate enough.

5. The Conference-Call Con — A multitasker who pretends to pay attention during teleconferences but is so busy checking e-mail he or she has no clue what’s being discussed. Distractions during conference calls are a surprisingly common problem.

   Suggestion: Although we all multitask from time to time, pay attention to relevant conversations when on conference calls. It can help to turn away from your monitor so you’re not distracted by e-mail.

To prevent working professionals from falling victim to online gaffes, Robert Half has published a new guide, titled Business Etiquette: The New Rules in a Digital Age. The comprehensive guide offers tips for successfully minding your manners when using professional networking sites, social media, e-mail, instant messaging, mobile devices and more.

“Social media and other technology tools have created new forums for connecting, sharing and, unfortunately, blundering,” Robert Half concludes in Business Etiquette. “Workplace controversies have ensued, but we can learn from our own and others’ missteps.”

Related

Information Overload Pushing Workers to the Brink

13 Types of Coworkers We Like: The Positive Coworker

13 Types of Irritating Coworkers: The Noisemaker

Jargon, Buzzwords and other Bad Biz Writing

Fading Into Acronymity

3 Building Blocks to Better Communication

E-Mail Etiquette: Before You Click “Send”

Meetings: Do I Really Have to Look at You?

Resources

…Survey Shows Dramatic Impact of Smartphones on Personal Life
RingCentral, April 13, 2010

…Top Tech Etiquette Offenders; New Guide Helps Prevent Career-Crushing Blunders
Robert Half, Feb. 15, 2011

Business Etiquette: The New Rules in a Digital Age
Robert Half, 2011