How Can We Tackle the Tobacco Chewing and Spitting Issue on Our Shop Floors?

Hi dear friends,

We are unable to control the spitting culture at shop floors. Most of the workmen have a habit of chewing tobacco and pan. They also contaminate the land by discarding the pouches. I seek suggestions from you to eliminate this problem.

TV Sagar

Hi friend,

We also faced the same problem and implemented a new system which goes like this:

1. Those who are found chewing bubble gum, pan, or spitting on the floor should pay a fine of 50 rupees every time they are caught doing such things. At the end of each month, the total amount collected as fines will be given to the housekeeping staff in cash or gifts, etc.

2. We identified the areas where people were spitting, cleaned those places, and put up photos of top performers, employees celebrating their birthdays, and a notice board in those locations.

This suggestion was successfully implemented by me four months ago in my previous firm and is still being practiced on the floor.

Regards,
Pravin.P

Dear Sagar,

It was a good suggestion given by Mr. Pravin, but it is not legally possible. You can't fine an employee on the ground that he has spit on the floor unless you have mentioned this misconduct in The Standing Orders or any service agreement. Moreover, you can't fine an employee and pay others; it should be paid to the LWF.

I suggest you amend your Standing Orders and implement the fine system. Placing photos in the workplace is an innovative suggestion from Mr. Pravin.

Regards,
Suresh Ramalingam
Consultant - Compliance

Dear Sagar and Suresh,

Mr. Suresh is right, but it's legally possible. Those conditions which were not covered under specified terms come under other heads/miscellaneous. Thank you, Suresh, for bringing this to our notice.

Regards,
Pravin P.

Dear Pravin,

Thank you for the suggestion. We have considered implementing a fine collection system, but we are wondering if there is a way to instigate a cultural shift. Collecting fines for an extended period may not be practical for a plant with an area exceeding 100,000 sq m.

In response to the idea of posting photos, as recommended by someone, we have displayed images of gods. This action has successfully deterred spitting in that specific area; however, it has led to the behavior resurfacing in a nearby area.

Individuals are not respecting the surroundings and leaving pillars, holes, plants, flower pots, and sometimes even damaging machines. There is a pressing need for a cultural transformation.

Sagar
Sagar

Dear Sagar,

You stole the words from my mouth. We need a culture change. Unless or until we make it a habit, it is highly impossible to keep our work area clean and tidy.

A doctor advised me that our saliva is good to prevent ulcers and other diseases likely to occur in our digestive systems. Our saliva is a natural medicine gifted by God for us. So it's good to swallow it rather than spitting it. I don't know when these people will understand this.

Thanks, Sagar.

Regards,
Pravin P.

Hi Mr. Sagar,

If the rules are strict, no one would dare to do it again. If you would embarrass or insult someone, like pricking a banana with a pin in front of each and every staff member, maybe they would dare not do it again.

Else, ask your shop floor supervisor to check their pockets. If they are entering the premises with a pan, beeda, etc., keep a dustbin at the entrance near the supervisor on the shop floor. Ask them to dispose of it in front of the supervisor and request the supervisor to dispose of it as well. The same could be followed after lunch. Check their pockets, tiffin box, and if possible, their mouth too.

Else, install dustbins near every corner of the room and other feasible locations so that it is easily available for the employees to spit.

Dear Sagar,

It's a serious problem of spitting at shop floor level, throwing pouches of gutka, etc. The company needs to overcome this problem as it not only spoils the environment but also creates very bad working conditions for the workers. Here are a few suggestions for stopping this:

1. Create an anti-tobacco drive in your company by gaining the confidence of top management. Propose fines like Rs. 50 for spitting; moreover, instruct the culprits to clean the mess. I understand that this may not be easily implemented. Please inform the Head of the Department about the issue. Convey the message that they will be directly responsible for any spitting incidents and will come under scrutiny by top management if such behavior is observed on the shop floor of their department. This will apply direct pressure on the workers to cease the activity. Organize surprise visits by the Director or any top official of the company, possibly during late night or early morning shifts.

2. Organize anti-tobacco training programs that explain the health risks associated with tobacco consumption. This will compel the workers to reconsider their habits.

I acknowledge that this process is challenging, but addressing the issue requires gaining the confidence of top management and then taking action. While it may take time, gradually such practices will diminish.

Regards,

Kamal Modi

HR Executive

STPL, Surat

An idea just occurred... Why don't you hang a tantalizing carrot for the people on the shop floor? No spitting and littering for 1 month, and they get a treat. Plan a treat like taking them out to an ice cream parlor. If you can't take them out, hire a TV and a good movie and get some snacks. Encourage cleanliness. If this works, you can have a person in charge of cleanliness every month and give away cash awards (cash awards are meaningful to people at that level). Keep a dedicated bin for spitting and littering and generally encourage good habits.

You can also appeal to their sense of patriotism and organize some cleanliness-related activities and awards on August 15th every year.

Hi all,

We have also encountered similar problems in our office premises in North Karnataka. We have placed spittoons in all areas with high activity. Additionally, we have put up notices stating that a fine of Rs. 100 will be imposed and deducted directly from the salary of anyone caught spitting, with the amount then going into the LWF. Otherwise, the entire cleaning costs will be charged to the individual.

Furthermore, if there are regular customer visits to the premises, security guards should monitor them for the same behavior.

Thanks & Regards,
Deepak. M

Instead of asking them not to do something, use an opposite approach by asking them to do it. You can put up some posters which have the below-mentioned things written on them:

"Your workplace is like God's temple. But if you wish, please spit over here."

"Your workplace is like a second home, but you can throw garbage over here if you do the same at your home."

And you can come up with many more innovative ideas, but remember the approach should be asking them to do what they are not supposed to do. In order to have a culture change in the organization, you won't be able to achieve anything with force. You have to hit at the right spot by evoking the moral character of people.

Hi Sonali,

That's a really good approach, but it's not always a cakewalk. In actual situations, it's never the same. I have tried something like that in my previous organization, but it didn't work. Moreover, it depends on the kind of workforce you are dealing with; indiscipline should sometimes be dealt with disciplinary actions. The code of conduct comes in handy in such times.

Regards,
Deepak

Sonalir,

I agree with Deepak. The type of people we are targeting is very important. These people think it is their birthright since some of them belong to tribes, and in tribal areas, all family members enjoy such habits together.

We have placed various photos of gods in all corners of the pillars in the shop floor, but they are not using those pillars. Instead, they are using the nearby walls or flower pots. Self-discipline is also important in this matter.

Sagar

Hi all,

I think a fine of Rs. 50 is very low. In Delhi, fines for helmet violation, jumping a red light, and driving without a license have been increased from 100 to 600 (100 + 500). Additionally, if a license is punched, after 5 punches, the license expires. Following this rule, the instances of people without helmets and those crossing red lights have significantly decreased. Therefore, we should consider raising the fine from 50 to 500, split as 400 for the company and 100 for the person providing the information. If the informant does not want the 100 rupees, their identity should be kept confidential. I believe that if this is implemented on at least one person, nine incidents of spitting could be avoided.

Thanks,
Deepak

Hi Deepak,

I agree with you. Actually, I'm still studying and have no experience with the actual situation and the things which work. Since you had implemented such a thing before and it didn't work, you must be more experienced in dealing with such work situations and knowing what really works!

Thanks :) Please share your experiences with me whenever you implement anything new in your organization.

Take care.

Regards,
Sonali

Dear friends,

Like Deepak, I have also handled the same situation in both soft and hard ways, but only the harder side worked out. They are afraid that they will be penalized and have stopped spitting. They have even stopped chewing bubble gum on the shop floor.

Regards,
Pravin P.

We seem to be dominated by Theory X managers. I still would like to believe that there are Theory Y people on shop floors. Maybe because I'm still just starting my career. Let me think aloud about the positives and negatives of both approaches.

Punishment and fines (legitimate, coercive sources of power):

1. Very high chances of recurrence.
2. How long will you punish (as you yourself pointed out).

Theory Y approach proposed: a campaign for culture change.

Activities: education - use posters educating why not to dirty premises, the concept of treating a workplace as a place of worship, poignant questions like, "If this were your house, would you do it?" on a poster showing someone spitting on a wall, or maybe a short movie showing one person advising another why not to spit on the wall. Try to instill a sense of pride for the workspace and a sense of belonging (assuming you have permanent and not temporary workers). Maybe create a workforce to physically implement or a task force to intellectually plan out methods to combat this issue. Hopefully, this should work. I have free time now and am interested in this project. If you want any specific help designing posters, etc., drop me an email at arvindsadasiv@gmail.com. I'm not too good at Hindi; the posters should be designed in vernacular font. I still believe people can be mended. :)

To cut my long note short, adopt a participatory approach, sensitize people, then involve them, and switch to referent and expert power.

Dear friends,

I enjoyed reading the conversations and discussions on the various issues regarding controlling tobacco use, spitting, and smoking. I was wondering if anyone in the forum is aware of companies that have become tobacco-free or smoke-free? Are there any companies that have introduced counseling programs, established quit lines, or set up cessation programs for employees? I am interested to know from forum members if any company quitlines have been set up.

Thanks and best wishes,