Message #20366

[smitkit]

Hi there!

Not the answer you were asking for, I'm afraid, just how we got over this problem at a company I worked at.  We used to have the same thing with mugs, plates, lunchboxes (going mouldy ... urgh) etc and tried in vain to get people to look after their own things.

Everyone used to get really exasperated about it and it caused quite a lot of whingeing in the office.  In the end, I suggested adding it to the list of duties for the cleaners we employed, and every night they washed up and put the items away.  It added about 15 minutes onto their shift, so didn't make much difference to the cost.  Solved the problem and everyone was happy!

This may not be the solution in a small office (don't know how often you have cleaners).  It may be worth noting however, that I also worked for a company that wanted to provide plates and cups etc for staff, but we were advised against it as if an employee got sick because they used something that hadn't been cleaned well, even if it was THEIR responsibility to clean it, the company would be held liable.  Needless to say the company decided against it.

Another option would be to buy one of those dishwashers that sit on the sink (about £100) ... last one from the office could switch it on and you'll come into clean plates in the morning.

I know none of the above addresses your request for help with the wording of a memo, but I've found that these sort of things always get ignored by a minority group anyway … and I’m not very good with polite requests when they’ve got to this stage … it’s more of a “you WILL now …”!!!

Hope this gives you some ideas if the memo doesn’t work.  Good Luck!

Smitkit