NEW Etiquette in a Covid-19 World: How to show respect and stay safe as restrictions lift in Australia

Same, same, just different: Australian etiquette in the age of coronavirus

New World Etiquette

Social etiquette and public health experts share practical tips for Australians to adapt to the "new normal" and be respectful of others in their day-to-day lives.

Here is how the pandemic has changed our manners - maybe for good Safety from the home to public has been our top priority. We aim for a completely contactless greeting now. We recommend at the Australian Finishing School the “grasp and grip” - clasping your hands together and putting them over your heart as you approach someone higher ranking and the “stop, drop, nod” a- standing still, dropping your hands and putting them behind your back (so not tempting to reach out for a handshake), or lastly nodding to say hello.

Invitations, events and RSVPs and how these have changed.

Many large-scale gatherings and events have already been cancelled, but if you've RSVP'd “yes” to something that's still scheduled to happen, international etiquette expert Amanda King says the rules around declining have become a bit more flexible.

"Long-standing etiquette and social graces have always dictated that if you accepted the RSVP and said you would attend, you must,” she says. “However, in light of the coronavirus, you can change your RSVP to decline if you cannot attend.”

In the case of events like weddings, she says, be sure to send a gift anyway — and change your response promptly out of respect for the host (you might also want to write a personal note expressing how much you regret having to decline).

When it comes to saying no to casual invitations, like neighbours asking you to join them 6 feet apart in their backyard, the experts recommend having a go-to script to politely decline. We recommend something like: “I'm so thrilled that you invited me, but I'm just not ready yet."

Having a few stock phrases in mind can also serve you well when out and about. AFS script for keeping your distance from a friendly passerby while walking the dog is something like: “Fluffy and I are both social distancing. Please greet us from at least 6 feet away. We look forward to seeing you after this resolves. You'll be more than welcome to pet her then!"

Masks and more in public.

With health officials now advising that everyone wear a mask or face covering while out in public, King says that fashionable face coverings may become the norm as people start looking to wear masks that coordinate with their clothing. Make sure that your mask is more than just a material if at all possible by popping in a p2.5 filter. Make sure you speak clearly and loudly enough for people to hear you through your mask. Proper Enunciation is more important than ever. join us for one of our classes to learn more.

Stay in your lane.

That simple rule to stay on the left and leave your seniors space on the footpath seems to have completely skipped the most recent generations. Today we need to respect space more than ever. Try to stay 1.5 - 2 metres apart.

Home Office Conferencing.

Dr Digital says it’s important to not only dress for a work audience, but to remove personal items that might be in shot. We need to learn to connect not disgrace ourselves, no matter which environment we are in. Working from home has its benefits and downfalls. “Good etiquette is to say good morning and or hello when you arrive into the videoconference, and then mute yourself when you aren’t speaking."

“Make this a habit and when your dog goes nuts at the arrival of a new grocery order or the children are simulating a world war for their remote history lesson you can be a smug silent oasis of calm.

“Turn up on time, so you can get your hellos over and mute yourself … Keep the meetings short and dynamic where possible. It is much easier to lose people’s attention when they aren’t physically in a room together.”

Restaurants and waiting in lines.

Changes are coming in quickly and patience is key. We need to allow more time to commute, wait in line or to be served to respect social distancing rules. If someone does get too physically close, King advises distancing yourself while saying, “If you wouldn’t mind, I’m going to take a few steps back.” Explaining that you are social distancing should do the trick, though she notes that it’s important to avoid calling out others or appear to judge their behaviour — particularly if you don’t know how they might react.

“You have to be polite, you have to be assertive, but you also have to be aware that you could incite someone,” she explains. “You might just have to remove yourself from the situation depending on your comfort level.” It is also a good idea bringing your own sanitiser to clean your hands while on the go or when you touch items. No more shared bread, you will mostly have your own serve.