I'm doing work experience and they have a staff meeting. What is appropriate for me to do?

I started out kind of standing in the corner of the room listening politely. Felt that it might not be appropriate for me to be listening even though no one told me to leave. So went into the back room and now I'm on my phone. I'm kind of socially inept so I'm worried I'm doing the wrong thing hiding back here? I don't know what normal people would do in my situation.

I started out kind of standing in the corner of the room listening politely. Felt that it might not be appropriate for me to be listening even though no one told me to leave. So went into the back room and now I'm on my phone. I'm kind of socially inept so I'm worried I'm doing the wrong thing hiding back here? I don't know what normal people would do in my situation. Given you are doing work experience, technically you are part of the staff and therefore it would be appropriate (and expected) that you would join your co-workers in their staff meeting. Retreating to a back room and using your iPhone indicates a lack of interest or indifference, and this may not reflect well on your evaluation. This is not about normal/abnormal, it is simply being mindful of your environment and acting accordingly. Poop a doodie on the floor back there. Not be on your phone. Step up and listen. If you see something you can input tell them. Fresh voices are good. You should probably be in the staff meeting. Hiding in the back to be on your phone is not very professional. If you are asked to go the the meeting then sit or stand and listen and take notes. You are not obliged to speak unless spoken to or asked your opinion. Lose the phone as that is not appropriate. Just go back to the shop floor or your desk. Let me understand this. You were actually IN the meeting. Nobody told you to leave - so you did? You walked out of a staff meeting to hide in your room and play with your phone?

Bad, bad, bad. If they hadn't wanted you there, somebody would have SAID, 'Oh Ellen, I don't think we need to waste your time here; you can go back to your desk if you like'.

Poop a doodie on the floor back there.

Not be on your phone. Step up and listen. If you see something you can input tell them. Fresh voices are good.

You should probably be in the staff meeting. Hiding in the back to be on your phone is not very professional.

If you are asked to go the the meeting then sit or stand and listen and take notes. You are not obliged to speak unless spoken to or asked your opinion. Lose the phone as that is not appropriate. Just go back to the shop floor or your desk.

Let me understand this. You were actually IN the meeting. Nobody told you to leave - so you did? You walked out of a staff meeting to hide in your room and play with your phone?

Bad, bad, bad. If they hadn't wanted you there, somebody would have SAID, 'Oh Ellen, I don't think we need to waste your time here; you can go back to your desk if you like'.