Rules of the game
To ensure that we can all work successfully in our new working environment at Octavo, guidelines and food for thought have been defined by all department heads and by the user representatives. These should help to make it easier to work and interact with each other at OCT.
General information
What is important in the new world of work?
- Be open to our new world of work and actively try out the modules.
- Tolerance and respect help us in our dealings with each other.
- All modules are available to all employees.
- Use the modules according to their intended functions and sizes.
- Report problems with technology, furniture, etc. immediately and leave instructions in place.
- Do not add to or change IT equipment independently. Request this from IT Services via a ticket.
- Leave all modules and workstations tidy and clean (clean desk) and keep them tidy.
- If you are ill, stay at home or wear a mask.
Notes
- The ETH house rules apply.
- These guidelines, rules and food for thought replace the previous OCT Office Guidelines.
- Information on the modules can be found on the Modules and Terms/Glossary pages.
- After your move, you will find additional information on the premises:
- Information leaflets with the rules for the respective modules
- Floor plans to help you find the modules.
- If you have any questions, please contact your user representatives.
Guidelines from the heads of departments – Rules of the game – Food for thought
Here you will find all three parts - guidelines, rules of the game and food for thought - presented separately. Please open the part you want to read by clicking on the cross or use the "Open all" function.
Home office policy / attendance
- The ETH Zurich guidelines on home office apply in principle (e.g. 100 per cent home office is not desired).
- The departments/sections/subunits can make individual arrangements that are optimal for their processes, structures and working methods.
Team day
- The departments/sections/groups and teams organise their own team day(s).
- The teams exchange information in order to prevent all team days from taking place on the same day.
Cooperation between departments
- Cooperation between departments should grow culturally and the heads of department are there to help.
- We all actively use the modules and also unconventional workplaces (such as the restaurant) to promote collaboration.
- We all promote project-orientated collaboration and actively use the opportunities available for this (e.g. the creative zone).
Workplace utilisation and clean desk regulations
- A standard workstation can be used as long as it is needed on any given day. It is not necessary to release the standard workstation after just two hours for a meeting, for example, if the workstation is subsequently needed again.
- The standard workstation is left in a tidy and clean condition after use.
Communication and questions
- The rules of the game are anchored by the managers and the involvement of the user representatives of the respective departments.
- If employees have any questions, they can contact their managers or their user representatives.
Role of managers
- We managers play an active role in dealing with the new working environment by setting an example of the possibilities.
Bookability of the modules
- The meeting rooms throughout the OCT can be reserved by all VPFC, VPIN and VPPL employees.
- The think tanks are used spontaneously and cannot be reserved.
- Series appointments must be booked carefully to avoid unnecessary reservations.
- Reservations that are not required must be cancelled in good time.
Overarching use of modules across units and floors
- We all know where the various modules are located and are familiar with their application functions and rules.
- We also use the kitchenettes and the restaurant for collaboration.
If these rules turn out not to make sense, we can discuss the measures. A first review meeting will take place in October 2024.
The heads of the departments (FoW@OCT project management)
Note: Information on the modules in the OCT can be found on this page.
Standard workstation
- We do not make planned and longer calls at our workstation, but use the modules provided for this purpose.
- We only make spontaneous calls and conversations at our workstation for a few minutes and switch to a designated module if they last longer.
- We mute or switch down our electronic devices.
Think tank
- We do not use the think tanks as a permanent workstation and release them again after meetings or phone calls.
Lounge
Meeting
Creative zone: G 19, G 35, G 57
- In the "Lounge" and "Meeting" modules, conversations are permitted at a moderate volume.
- The Creative Zone can also be louder.
Bookable modules:
Meeting room
Creative zone: F 31.2, F 41.2
Project zone: F 11
- We release the module in the system if a meeting is cancelled or ends early.
- We can book the project zone for longer than one day and leave our material on site.
Quiet zone
- We refrain from greetings and conversations.
- We mute all devices: no ringing or vibrating.
- We set MS Teams to "Do not disturb".
Tea kitchen
- We only eat in the kitchenettes or in the Octavo restaurant, in the courtyard or on the terrace.
- We only eat hot and odour-intensive meals in the restaurant.
- Aperitifs are permitted in the tea kitchens.
- We label our personal food in the fridge and dispose of leftovers weekly.
- We all load and unload the dishwasher.
- We only dispose of organic waste and odour-intensive food in the kitchenette.
- There are no volume restrictions when the door is closed.
- We help to ensure that cooperation works in our working environments.
- We establish and live an open culture of discussion and feedback, e.g. by integrating a feedback round into our section meeting or a grievance/praise box.
- We approach conflicts proactively, always treat each other as equals and adopt a solution-orientated approach.
- We take a holistic view in discussions, do not lose sight of overarching goals and avoid purely personal approaches.?
- We can jointly establish methods to reduce disruptive factors, e.g. through "Do not disturb" signs or the use of hand signals.
- We can jointly determine places and times to intensify dialogue during breaks.
- ?We can invite specific people and teams to our home base or establish "show and tell" formats to get to know each other better and network.
Note on the translation
This text has been translated for your convenience using a machine translation tool. It may not be perfect. If in doubt, please refer to the German version.
Should you come upon significant translation mistakes, please send a short message to so that we can correct them. Thank you very much.