Dear Friends,
I am working as an HR Manager since 7 years .
Today at my office, i saw one employee who was taking at one time more than 3 paper to just wipe her mouth and she put that in dustbin in few seonds,
I called her and asked politly wat happened, are you tensed or anything wrong happened, why you did so
means, she is telling me why did i called and counselled her for this small act
She didnt have the feeling that she did mistake of wasting office tissue paper is not given to waste like this,
Is that i did any mistake , Hope i didnt do any mistake and help how to solve this issue at office, gals are using more tissue paper and wasting it
Kindly advice
Thanks
Vidhya
HR manager
From India, Chennai
I am working as an HR Manager since 7 years .
Today at my office, i saw one employee who was taking at one time more than 3 paper to just wipe her mouth and she put that in dustbin in few seonds,
I called her and asked politly wat happened, are you tensed or anything wrong happened, why you did so
means, she is telling me why did i called and counselled her for this small act
She didnt have the feeling that she did mistake of wasting office tissue paper is not given to waste like this,
Is that i did any mistake , Hope i didnt do any mistake and help how to solve this issue at office, gals are using more tissue paper and wasting it
Kindly advice
Thanks
Vidhya
HR manager
From India, Chennai
Dear Vidhya,
A phrase in English says: many a little makes a mickle. It teaches us the importance of being thrifty. One has to be parsimonious while spending one's money or resources. In many homes in Asian and African countries in general, and India in particular, the parents inculcate a sense of thrift in their children. Creating usable things even from waste is common. However, being thrifty is one's choice. Not necessarily all poor families exercise caution while spending their money or resources. They are spendthrift without any remorse.
From your post, it appears that you expected others to follow caution while consuming the resources. However, the other employee had a different perception. She hardly cared for a tissue paper that cost less than fifty paise a piece.
The difference in perceptions came to the fore when you called her to your office and questioned her for consuming two additional tissue papers. An average employee could become upset if he or she is a victim of micromanagement and your female colleague was no exception. In return, she questioned your counselling or paternalistic attitude.
Vidhya, please note that an organisation has people of all hues. Their backgrounds are different. They are brought up in different sub-cultures. While working together, each member has to reconcile with the divergence that it brings in its wake.
The organisations focus strongly on cost-cutting and they expect their employees to curtail the wastage of resources. However, the members are expected to focus on meaningful costs like the cost of poor quality (COPQ), cost of rework, costs arising out of poor workmanship, etc. Added to these are the costs incurred because of poor coordination, poor teamwork, lack of decisiveness, poor delegation, etc. If one focuses on these meaningful costs, the thought of cost of consumption of the extra two tissue papers will not occur at all!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
7910A phrase in English says: many a little makes a mickle. It teaches us the importance of being thrifty. One has to be parsimonious while spending one's money or resources. In many homes in Asian and African countries in general, and India in particular, the parents inculcate a sense of thrift in their children. Creating usable things even from waste is common. However, being thrifty is one's choice. Not necessarily all poor families exercise caution while spending their money or resources. They are spendthrift without any remorse.
From your post, it appears that you expected others to follow caution while consuming the resources. However, the other employee had a different perception. She hardly cared for a tissue paper that cost less than fifty paise a piece.
The difference in perceptions came to the fore when you called her to your office and questioned her for consuming two additional tissue papers. An average employee could become upset if he or she is a victim of micromanagement and your female colleague was no exception. In return, she questioned your counselling or paternalistic attitude.
Vidhya, please note that an organisation has people of all hues. Their backgrounds are different. They are brought up in different sub-cultures. While working together, each member has to reconcile with the divergence that it brings in its wake.
The organisations focus strongly on cost-cutting and they expect their employees to curtail the wastage of resources. However, the members are expected to focus on meaningful costs like the cost of poor quality (COPQ), cost of rework, costs arising out of poor workmanship, etc. Added to these are the costs incurred because of poor coordination, poor teamwork, lack of decisiveness, poor delegation, etc. If one focuses on these meaningful costs, the thought of cost of consumption of the extra two tissue papers will not occur at all!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Have to say that I have never read anything more ridiculous than this in a long, long time.
Are you serious, or is this a premature April Fool's joke?
If you must practice such stupid penny-pinching then do not supply tissues to the staff. Ask them to bring their own supply to work if they require them.
I would have thought health and hygiene would have a higher priority.
From Australia, Melbourne
Are you serious, or is this a premature April Fool's joke?
If you must practice such stupid penny-pinching then do not supply tissues to the staff. Ask them to bring their own supply to work if they require them.
I would have thought health and hygiene would have a higher priority.
From Australia, Melbourne
Ok, serioulsy?
You, a HR Manager of 7 years actually reprimanded someone for using too much of tissues?
It looks petty and frankly, if i was the lady in question, i would be evaluating either whether to work there, or whether you have any grevience against her.
Thrift is a good thing, avoiding wastage is good also, but it is better to tackle that through a wider campaign rather than putting it to one person. Is there a general trend to something? Try an awareness campaign perhaps?
Please understand that people's value systems are different. Younger generation, growing up with use and throw concept do not care for these things. On the other hand, those who are aggressive on ESG and Climate Change among the same younger generation, they are probably going to refuse to use the paper towel and instead opt for their own personal napkins
Back to the original matter, I think it was wrong of you to reprimind or even take up such a minor matter and make an issue of it.
From India, Mumbai
You, a HR Manager of 7 years actually reprimanded someone for using too much of tissues?
It looks petty and frankly, if i was the lady in question, i would be evaluating either whether to work there, or whether you have any grevience against her.
Thrift is a good thing, avoiding wastage is good also, but it is better to tackle that through a wider campaign rather than putting it to one person. Is there a general trend to something? Try an awareness campaign perhaps?
Please understand that people's value systems are different. Younger generation, growing up with use and throw concept do not care for these things. On the other hand, those who are aggressive on ESG and Climate Change among the same younger generation, they are probably going to refuse to use the paper towel and instead opt for their own personal napkins
Back to the original matter, I think it was wrong of you to reprimind or even take up such a minor matter and make an issue of it.
From India, Mumbai
Dear Vidhya,
Do not provide anything in free which is cost to the company. You can do the welfare that is most essential at minimal level, but do not hesitate to charge the cost for the misuse & above the minimal use. You need to bring out an office orders to charge for excess and wastages done to the free materials than the fixed quantity,to avoid such unpleasant situation or reprimanding every employees one by one. Your actions is in order, you can send the mail too instead of asking face to face.
From India, Mumbai
Do not provide anything in free which is cost to the company. You can do the welfare that is most essential at minimal level, but do not hesitate to charge the cost for the misuse & above the minimal use. You need to bring out an office orders to charge for excess and wastages done to the free materials than the fixed quantity,to avoid such unpleasant situation or reprimanding every employees one by one. Your actions is in order, you can send the mail too instead of asking face to face.
From India, Mumbai
Vidhya,
I agree with Mr. Dinesh and Saswata Banerjee. In fact, in many organizations, employees even in senior level, they waste many resources including keeping the AC on when they go out for a meeting or lunch but switch of the lights etc. Though I personally dont advocate wasting of any resources including food, it is not advisable to reprimand an employee direct for excess usage of tissue papers. This could have been handled little more gently and in a sophisticated manner. However, way forward, you can plan for an awareness to all employees regarding waste of any resources in the organization. As it is said, each has been brought up in a different environment, culture and with different value systems. One may feel it is wrong to waste something but another one may not even feel that it is a mistake. But, things are to be dealt in an organization's perspective. Discuss with your boss always before you initiate any such action or release any notice or communication etc to ensure that you are doing right. Anyways, please do not regret for your action, after all, you have done it with a good intention only.
From India, Chennai
I agree with Mr. Dinesh and Saswata Banerjee. In fact, in many organizations, employees even in senior level, they waste many resources including keeping the AC on when they go out for a meeting or lunch but switch of the lights etc. Though I personally dont advocate wasting of any resources including food, it is not advisable to reprimand an employee direct for excess usage of tissue papers. This could have been handled little more gently and in a sophisticated manner. However, way forward, you can plan for an awareness to all employees regarding waste of any resources in the organization. As it is said, each has been brought up in a different environment, culture and with different value systems. One may feel it is wrong to waste something but another one may not even feel that it is a mistake. But, things are to be dealt in an organization's perspective. Discuss with your boss always before you initiate any such action or release any notice or communication etc to ensure that you are doing right. Anyways, please do not regret for your action, after all, you have done it with a good intention only.
From India, Chennai
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