I used to work with a gal who never cleaned up after herself, so we started leaving her dishes in the sink. I brought in a mug with my name on it, sat it on the counter and went to the ladies room. When I got back, it was gone. She had taken it. “Oh, is this yours? It was clean, so I grabbed it.”
I took it away from her, dumped her coffee, and fixed my own.
We put up signs “Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here!” “Do your dishes!” … Since there were a few parents with adult children working with us – the message got through. Mom tells & shames adult child. Adult child gets ticked off and tells off & shames co-workers. – dishes get done. .we solved the fridge problem. Once a month, a different group is assigned to clean the fridge. We also clean the microwave, kettle, etc. So for a day – everything looks pretty.
While working at an engineering branch of a large hi tech firm I was assigned the job doing a security clean out and confidential document search of the desk of a young engineering intern who’d left suddenly. I didn’t find any documents, but I did find why the office had a huge mouse problem… There must of been 5 or 6 half eaten take out dinners stuffed in the bottom of his desk drawers, a dozen brown bag lunches stashed under his desk and I won’t even describe what was in his file cabinets.Dirty dishes left in the lunch room didn’t seem so bad after that.
I think our office tried all those ideas, including the “Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here” signs. Then about a year ago, all the plates and silverware were replaced by paper plates and cups. Not elegant, but it works.
interceptor over 10 years ago
Frank got that sinking feeling again.
g.iangoodson over 10 years ago
Poignant? I think you mean ‘pointed’.
J Short over 10 years ago
They gave him food for thought.
Dani Rice over 10 years ago
I used to work with a gal who never cleaned up after herself, so we started leaving her dishes in the sink. I brought in a mug with my name on it, sat it on the counter and went to the ladies room. When I got back, it was gone. She had taken it. “Oh, is this yours? It was clean, so I grabbed it.”
I took it away from her, dumped her coffee, and fixed my own.
Hunter7 over 10 years ago
We put up signs “Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here!” “Do your dishes!” … Since there were a few parents with adult children working with us – the message got through. Mom tells & shames adult child. Adult child gets ticked off and tells off & shames co-workers. – dishes get done. .we solved the fridge problem. Once a month, a different group is assigned to clean the fridge. We also clean the microwave, kettle, etc. So for a day – everything looks pretty.
Rista over 10 years ago
While working at an engineering branch of a large hi tech firm I was assigned the job doing a security clean out and confidential document search of the desk of a young engineering intern who’d left suddenly. I didn’t find any documents, but I did find why the office had a huge mouse problem… There must of been 5 or 6 half eaten take out dinners stuffed in the bottom of his desk drawers, a dozen brown bag lunches stashed under his desk and I won’t even describe what was in his file cabinets.Dirty dishes left in the lunch room didn’t seem so bad after that.
ted.hering over 10 years ago
I think our office tried all those ideas, including the “Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here” signs. Then about a year ago, all the plates and silverware were replaced by paper plates and cups. Not elegant, but it works.