Should communicators stay out of the break rooms?
I know a lot of communicators who rely on employee break rooms as a place to put their publications and other company messages. At companies where the employees don't have a mailbox, or a desk, or access to the intranet or e-mail, the break room is really the only option the communicators have.
But I just took part in a discussion that calls that strategy into question. I was doing some consulting for a restaurant company, and as a part of that work we called in a bunch of employees to talk to them about how they wanted to receive company information.
One of the options the communicators at the company were considering was the installation of closed-circuit TVs in all the break rooms. Important company news could then be run on a continuous loop.
That seemed like a no-brainer to me, if they wanted to spend the dough (although my advice was to save that money and instead buy some old-fashioned cork-board bulletins; they tend to work better than technology, TV, intranet kiosks, and other more expensive options, I've found).
Well, the communicator ran the 'TV in the break room' idea by the employees—and they hated it. They absolutely hated it.
'When I go in that break room, I'm on break,' said one. 'I don't want to spend my break catching up on company news.'
'Keep all that company stuff out of the break room,' agreed another employee. 'We're in there to get away from work, not get hit in the face with it.'
Again and again, employees spoke up to keep the TVs out of the break room.
Which is fine. I understand their point. But from the sound of it, they didn't want any company information in there—including a bulletin board, a print publication, or anything else.
My question to you is, should we stay out of the break rooms? Or do we tell employees, 'tough rocks, we need to get you this information and this is our only option.'
Anybody?
Comments (10)
It's pretty sad when, given the chance to think about it, employees are filled with such disdain for anything company-related. Maybe if the information was delivered to them in a palatable, interesting way -- regardless of the medium -- they wouldn't hate it so much. Kinda like putting marshmallows on top of yams so the kids'll eat 'em.
Posted by Robert J Holland | November 8, 2004 11:58 AM
Posted on November 8, 2004 11:58
Paul, I love that idea about putting the message above the coffee machine. I once heard about a company----I think I read it in one of Carol Kinsey Goman's books---that wired the coffee pot, so that everytime fresh coffee was made, it sent a message to people's computers, somehow. And everyone would gather around the coffee pot-----where the communicators had posted a white erase board. Before you know it, people were jotting down ideas and such on the board!
Matthew, I think you're exactly right. There is a need to be subtle. Blasting them in the face with Big Brother messages via the TV while they're trying to relax is harsh. But there are probably ways of doing it in a more subtle matter.
Steve
Posted by steve crescenzo | November 17, 2004 11:20 AM
Posted on November 17, 2004 11:20
DATE: 11/05/2004 50:33:1P PM
I think this is one of those times you don't ask employees; you just do it. If TV monitors with company news had just appeared in the break rooms, those employees who vetoed the idea probably never would have thought of it as an intrusion. After all, you don't HAVE to watch. But I bet they would have watched. A three-minute loop with key headlines while drinking some coffee and eating a rainbow-sprinkled donut wouldn't have struck them as an intrusion, but it will now that they've been asked to comment on the idea.
Posted by Shel Holtz | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/06/2004 73:02:9A PM
You know, Shel . . . you're probably right. It's funny, when they were first asked about it, it wasn't an immediate negative reaction. It was nothing at first, some nods, some shakes of the heads . . . but after they THOUGHT about it, and after one woman voiced her complaint, THAT'S when other people started piping up. Which would support your strategy, I think.
Steve
Posted by steve crescenzo | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/08/2004 63:83:9A PM
Well, the break room is on company property, so in a sense, "tough toodles." But given the expressed hatred of company messages (hmmm...makes you wonder if something is going on there) here's a suggestion for another place: the restroom. Captive reading on back of stall doors. More interesting than ads for the gym and limo services. :-)
Posted by Elizabeth | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/08/2004 71:65:0A PM
Elizabeth!!
I've been promoting that strategy for years!! Just like the sports bars, which post that day's sports pages above the urinals! I think it's brilliant.
Posted by steve crescenzo | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/10/2004 70:30:9P PM
Ah yes, more proof that communications folks are the devil. :) The whole point of taking a break is so that you can clear your mind and then go back to work refreshed and more productive. Since a TV forces you to listen to it, it is by definition invasive; perhaps somewhat Orwellian. A cork board can be looked at at the employee's leisure. At my old job, everything was posted above the coffee maker. If the company news smells like coffee, it MUST be good. ;)
Posted by Paul | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 11/16/2004 31:42:9P PM
Please do not take my comments to hand too seriously as I do not have any authority in advising others, but
prehaps the solution lies in maybe a more subtle approach? Employees don't want to feel invaded by corporate publications or corporate messages, but I for one know that staff might become a little curious when taking a break and will start to look around the room and look at leaflets and posters with a "I wonder what that's about" attitude, with the TV idea prehaps this wouldn't be a bad idea if the volume was just low or maybe the core facts were placed on the screen with speaker notes on the side, just like bullet points conveying the core meaning of the video. That way the employees won't feel like their break room is being invaded, but have the option to glance at the screen and still recieve wahtever message it is your trying to put across
I think the solution might be to me a little more subtle in the delivery of company information, from what you describe there is a very much "Them and us" atmosphere in the workplace, with a feeling the managers are out to get them. :)
Posted by Matthew Roberts | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 05/20/2005 31:22:3A PM
If you have to control your weight then you have to keep a check on your amount of food intake
also. Along with a check on your food intake you need to eat the right kind of food and not only
that regular exercise is also required to maintain a healthy body weight.
If you are exceptionally overweight or obese then you may need to treat it with some |
http://www.phenterminepower.com | diet pills. Diet pills like | http://www.phenterminepower.com | Phentermine is an appetite-suppressant which controls your appetite and makes you less desirous for wanting food. | http://www.phenterminepower.com | Buy Phentermine if you really need medical treatment to treat your obesity. We offer | http://www.phenterminepower.com | cheap Phentermine. | http://www.phenterminepower.com | Buy Phentermine online and help yourself in weight reduction.
Posted by jimmy | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30
DATE: 06/02/2005 60:50:8A PM
Great comments guys. Peter <a href="http://www.fda.gov/">FDA</a>
Posted by Peter | October 16, 2006 4:30 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:30