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I've been asked to craft a message to employees about how to behave in the break rooms because the execs are hearing too many inappropriate cell phone conversations, obnoxious behavior etc. Any great ideas about how to convey this without getting hate mail from insulted staff members? (Okay, really I know I'll have to take the hate mail, just like any time I have to remind them about the smoking area. But I would like to hammer home the message without ticking people off if possible. I've found with our group that if you're too delicate they don't get it but if your not . . .)
You might want to discuss this with your legal department as what constitutes inappropriate cell phone conversations, obnoxious behavior, etc... could be subjective.
I know this is very un-HR of me to say. I believe people know exactly how to behave, but some just don't care. MisterBun is correct in that evaluating behavior is subjective. However, you must have some workplace rules in place already. Make sure that employees are aware that breaks are still on company property and therefore business etiquette applies. If they are obnoxious on the job as well as on break, then that's a job for the manager to handle.
Do it with humor. Dramatize the consequences of having the wrong conversation overheard, or of offending the wrong person. Make up a fictional officemate who has complained. It could be someone snivelly or someone big and menacing. I'm with Cher, they know how to behave, they need to be reminded that they know.
One question - you mentioned that execs are hearing and seeing the inappropriate behavior: are they responding when it happens and making it clear it's not appropriate?
If they're watching it happen and doing nothing, employees will be pissed off when an 'official' reminder comes out, no matter how humorous.
Maybe coach Execs on what/how to say, how managers could bring it up at team meetings.
In any case, good luck with this one!
-------------------------------- Paula Cassin
Desktop messaging tools that engage employees and drive action.
www.cutthroughcommunications.com
Why craft a message to ALL employees, when it's a few in the break room who are behaving badly? Those who hear or see the behavior should act on it immediately and tell those folks directly. I've seen this too often - a few people do the wrong thing, yet management feels the need to chastise the entire workforce.
I think everyone has contributed a "nugget" or two towards the good solution you seek. To quote a former boss, "Common sense is required, but it's not a prerequisite."
1. Consultation with legal is always a good idea in these days and times. Make sure you're on sound legal ground regardless of the path you pursue.
2. In the workplace, behavioral expectations have to be driven by policy; it's what removes the subjectivity in determining what's appropriate or inappropriate.
3. Gaining compliance with expected organizational behaviors (which should be in the applicable policy) is a management issue. If supervisors, managers or execs see it, but don't take action to correct it, then they are condoning it.
4. "Shot-gun" management, i.e., the memo to everyone for the "sins" of the few, almost never obtain good results. Create good policy, communicate the policy, and then hold employees accountable for compliance with policy and management accountable for enforcing compliance.
Assuming that you're going to have to send something out, perhaps you can craft the message around good behavior. For example: thank you for being a good neighbor in the breakroom. Then you can work on defining good behaviors.
i would paint a picture of some of the bad behaviors in your intro paragraph... talking loudly on cell phone, feet up on table, trimming fingernails, whatever is the situation. then, get some quotes to back it up and let employees say why it bothers them. good luck!
Target delivery: rather than send to all employees, put the message on a poster in the break room.
The message: could be focused on togetherness, with an unstated hint of social pressure. "Let's give each other a break. When we're here to relax, no one wants to overhear weird phone calls, obscenity, gross jokes, etc."
