It’s easy to say, but setting boundaries to maintain professionalism at work is far from simple. Too often, professionalism is misinterpreted as limitless dedication and self-sacrifice.

In reality, working professionally does not mean abandoning values, relationships, or health for the sake of results. True professionalism lies in maintaining ethical, emotional, and personal boundaries so that dignity remains intact.

Professionalism at work can also mean maintaining respectful relationships with colleagues in the workplace. Just as humans in real life are bound by social norms, in the work environment, each individual must uphold decency, which is at the core of interpersonal values.

The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, in discussing professional relationships, particularly in terms of ethics and behavior, argued that humans are inherently selfish and tend to prioritize their own interests. This nature can lead to a state of chaos, bellum omnium contra omnes (the war of all against all).

Ultimately, Hobbes suggested the presence of a force to reduce individual selfishness and transform it into energy for pursuing common interests—an absolute institution like the state. Of course, this is less relevant in democratic societies today.

A similar dynamic can occur in workplace relationships. Individuals can act selfishly and exceed normal limits. A manager might give orders without considering the workload and scope of their subordinates. Or a colleague might intrude too far into another’s personal matters.

This is what happens when a work environment lacks decency. In modern social interactions, decency is often treated as ornamentation rather than foundation.

Yet decency is more than mere politeness; it is an expression of human values that preserves dignity, builds trust, and creates a morally and emotionally healthy workspace.