How Can We Stop Employees from Spitting Pan Masala on Walls and Toilets?

My organization is fed up with employees who spit pan masala or gutka on the walls and toilets. Any solutions?

Hi Dude,

No need to be scared, you need to follow these points:

1. Show a notice on the notice board: "DO NOT SPIT in the Office Premises. If found, the company will impose a fine on you."
2. Install CCTV Cameras.
3. Install Spittoons.
4. Conduct a group meeting every week to raise awareness of cleanliness in the organization and company goals.
5. Also, post some slogans.

These points above may help you cope with this kind of problem.

Yes, as said by Arunbansal007, the best idea is to draw some holy pictures on the walls. In schools and temple compound walls, the management does this to avoid urination and spoiling by pasting notices. This will surely work out.

Suppose an employee has a habit of spitting on the office walls, would the above advice be useful? Additionally, in office premises, you cannot place holy pictures in more than one location.

Restrictions on Holy Pictures

Holy pictures cannot be placed inside the bathroom as this could hurt the sentiments of every employee.

Finding a Solution to Employee Habits

Without painting walls with holy pictures (as it can't be done everywhere), I am sure there should be a simple and unique solution to change the bad habits of your employees.

With profound regards

Long ago, I had read that the Kolkata underground system was the pride of the city. So, I checked the web to see if it was still like that (no spitting of paan, etc). To my surprise, the problem exists but not to the extent it happens on the buses, etc. Please see Kolkata Metro Updates - Page 184 - SkyscraperCity.

If you know who the culprits are making them clean up the mess and paint may deter them from reoffending. Have a nice day.

Simhan
A retired academic in the UK.

[QUOTE=Abarna Ramesh;1519069]

First of all, ban the Panmasala/Gutka/Cigarettes inside the office premises, since it could help to improve the health conditions of the employees rather than pasting holy pictures.

First of all, try to find the solution from scratch where the problem starts. So, ban Pan items, etc., so that there is no need to advise/paste holy things.

Create awareness among the employees about intake of Pan and its side effects. At least in working hours, they won't take these, and it will be really helpful to improve their health conditions.

Yes, we can ban the pan masala during office hours, but the situation remains the same because we are dealing with illiterate laborers. The best way to address this kind of problem, as I have mentioned before, is the right way to control the issue.

Hi,

I feel that painting holy pictures on the wall will not solve the problem. According to me, one must have a regular (at least weekly) meeting with the workers, and it needs to be explained to them that the place where we are spending more time than even our house needs to be kept clean. My experience says that it is easier to make less educated people understand than highly educated ones. If you explain the importance of cleanliness at the workplace to them properly, I think your problem will get solved.

Regards, Shreyas Dave
Muscat

Dear Dash,
This was the same problem that we had faced in our organization.
To eradicate this you need to have patience and following are the initiatives that we have adopted:-
1.Clean and paint the entire office premises
2.Paste pictures in the notice board that shows the ill effects of consuming gutkha and cigarette.
3.Circular to all employees that this is tobacco free zone.
4.Awareness among the employees that this is our organization and it's our duty to keep it clean.
5.Help employees to leave habit of consuming tobacco.
6.Form squad who will do surprise check to employees.
7.At last penalty to be charged and disciplinary action to be taken.
These had worked for us and hope this will help you. It may take some months to change habits of employees. At least they will not consume in office premises.
Regard's
Shaikh

Dear All,

Most of the members have submitted their suggestions, which do work but only to an extent. It's not that easy to have total control over employees or individuals and eliminate problems completely (100%).

I hope you all are aware of human behavior (psychology), which is influenced by factors like:

1) Environment
1.1) Place of work - official
1.2) Place of stay - residential
2) Living style - class/status
3) Influencing minds (people) that inculcate habits (good or bad) or let's say good friends circle and bad friends circle
4) Education level - literacy
5) Knowledge - wisdom

Best example for change in habits, living style:

I have learned that most students who went abroad to pursue higher education experienced major changes in their habits like:
1) Not spitting on roads/walls
2) Not littering their place (dining hall, kitchen room, bedroom, washrooms)
3) Not throwing waste material on roads and utilizing dustbins and garbage disposal cans effectively
4) Dressing well, organizing themselves, and their cupboards/wardrobes

These changes are associated with an individual's living style, hygienic conditions, etc., promoted by the city/country itself.

However, some students (very few) who returned to India started exhibiting behaviors like throwing papers on roads, spitting on roads, etc., merely because they observed others doing the same, without considering the consequences or their own values, underestimating themselves and their country (India).

What made these students change their habits when they were abroad and revert to old habits back in India? Is it their mindset driving their behavior? Or are external factors and standards associated with the country influencing them?

The change should originate from the root level. Everyone should embrace and adopt good habits regardless of their living standards, class, or status.

Apart from educating employees and enhancing their knowledge about the adverse effects of bad habits on their lives and families, strict guidelines should be enforced with punishments for violations. Otherwise, developed or developing countries wouldn't have witnessed significant changes in their living standards.

It takes time for individuals to overcome bad habits, and change is linked to factors that serve as reminders of the potential consequences they might face for not adopting good habits or changing themselves.

Keep sharing knowledge. Have a nice day.

With profound regards,

Form a squad that will conduct surprise checks on employees. I believe this will be one of the best solutions mentioned above.

Dear Ms. Yaasmin,

The solution should be designed and implemented in such a way that it does not lead to employees fighting amongst themselves, creating instability, additional problems, or a loss of unity, etc.

"Form a squad that will conduct surprise checks on employees."

Who do you suggest should be included in the squad? Existing employees or security guards? One should consider the post-consequences of any solution before implementation. Kindly seek the help of visualization techniques/strategies.

With profound regards.

Though by and large what Khadir says is true, unless there are sanctions in place like in Singapore, people do behave differently. For example, on one university campus, students chew gums and spit them on the tarmac. Removing the white/gray blotches left behind requires a significant amount of time and money. The same issue arises with smokers who discard their cigarette stubs improperly.

Moreover, individuals walking their dogs often allow them to defecate in others' gardens. Subsequently, after picking up the dog's waste, they sometimes dispose of it on the street when no one is watching.

Have a nice day.

Simhan

Hope this idea may work out to stop even chewing tobacco. Please arrange a medical check-up camp for all employees, preferably with spouses. Make a presentation on the chewing of tobacco, smoking, and their impacts/effects on health. You can refer to [Health Risks Related to Spit Tobacco (Chewing Tobacco or Snuff) - Cancer - Everyday Health](http://everydayhealth.com) and prepare the presentation. The presentation must end with environmental and healthy living atmosphere too. Please try to confirm whether it works or not. All the best.

The idea is good, but at the same time, it is a time-consuming process and will take more than a year to control the situation. If you are not imposing any financial implications, the discipline couldn't come.

We had the same problem in our organization. We instructed the security guards to sincerely check at the gate. Once we started this practice, the issue gradually decreased.

Regards,
Ashok
Executive HR
NASH Industries

I think the below points should make a huge difference within a short span of time.

1. Educate employees with posters (that show the swollen mouth, mouth cancer, damaged lips, etc., because of pan, gutka) that are direct so that every time they think of pan, gutka, or smoking, they will be aware of the future (near future) diseases they are likely to get, etc.

2. Usually, illiterate employees get into these habits due to boredom, so try some initiatives to encourage some activities.

3. STRICTLY BAN ALL SUCH ITEMS INSIDE THE COMPANY PREMISES and put a notice at the entrance gate (near the security guard's cabin) mentioning that - "PAN, GUTKHA, BEEDI, CIGARETTE ARE NOT ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT."

4. Also put a board (color banner - 2 feet x 2 feet) showing all the chota packets of the above items with a big red cross on them. Since they are illiterate, this should be easy to understand.

The idea of installing CCTV cameras is a costly solution for a problem of this type. Secondly, installing CCTV is not possible in toilets. I think this will not hurt their sentiments and will help in keeping the company premises clean.

Perhaps, you need a trainer who can succeed in inculcating good habits in your employees. It should be a very dynamic person capable of influencing human minds by touching their hearts.

If you don't have any financial implications, then you can go ahead with such training programs.

With profound regards.

Absolutely right. This is common sense that a camera cannot be installed in the toilet. CCTV cameras are costly, but at the same time, they are very effective for disciplinary and security purposes.

Control at the security gate itself is the best and easiest solution.

Regards,
S. Sethupathy, Erode.

Control at the security gate itself is the best option. Many companies don't allow these items inside.

On that wall, make a collage of photographs of your employees. That should help! Additionally, I have found that you spit where it is already dirty, so maybe keeping the area spick and span should help.

I agree with Mr. Vikash Sharma. Using holy pictures should not be the only solution. Instead, you can create awareness about cleanliness and form a club (without giving it the name "committee") that takes care of cleanliness. Employees who have the habit of spitting should be members of this club.

Dear all,

I agree with all of the points mentioned above. Additionally, I suggest implementing behavior-based training and awareness training conducted by an external professional faculty. During the training sessions, it would be beneficial to use effective pictures or slides to facilitate quick communication and understanding of the impacts of tobacco. It is also important to conduct refresher training as needed.

Thank you.

Dear all,

I believe these kinds of activities can be completely replaced by "posting cancer awareness pictures on the walls" rather than the holy pictures, "sending awareness emails containing graphic mouth cancer pictures" for at least a month on a regular basis, and "organizing seminars on cancer awareness" by inviting guest lecturers from the medical field (oncologists).

Thanks & Regards,

Sibananda S.M. Tripathy

नमस्ते नमस्ते ड्र रहें हे नमस्ते हे। ठीक ठीक शुभ शुभ धन्यवाद धन्यवाद। हर पल धन्यवाद। तेरा तेरा।

तुम्हारा तुम्हारा जीवन बहुत अच्छा है। धन्यवाद। तुम्हारा जीवन बहुत अच्छा है।

Thank you.

1. Ask nearby school children to come and paint holy pictures on walls where painting can be done without hurting anyone's sentiments.
2. In the rest of the places, install CCTV cameras.
3. Post a cleaning person at the bathroom. You can't put holy pictures or CCTV there.

Hi Guys,

I agree with a few points of Shaik Abdul Khader and want to share a few points on the same, using my company as an example.

A few months back, we faced the same problem and came up with a solution where employees provided suggestions for the problem, and we implemented them.

Suggestions we received from Employees:

1) Suggesting one designated area where they can smoke.

2) Recommend having a spit box filled with sand in the smoking area.

3) The allocated place should be designated for smoking only, no chatting or eating.

4) The designated area should be filled with greenery, meaning plants.

Taking the above points from employees, we allocated a smoke zone with a caption stating, "Employees will not be restricted in their habits, and we will respect your habits".

After allocating the smoking space, employees stopped using the restrooms for spitting gutkas and disposing of used cigars.

Initially, employees were unhappy because they had to walk a distance to smoke or chew gutkas. However, over time, the allocated place transformed with small trees and a small pond with fishes, based on a suggestion from a female employee.

Employees found it uncomfortable to chew gutkas and spit in an area with a pond full of living fishes.

This solution solved my problem, especially as chewing gutkas on office premises stopped, while the smoke zone continued. Now, we are addressing another common issue in every industry, which is salary comparison.

Try this approach and feel the difference.

Dear All,

I have one question: Are Employees going to the Office or Temple? Why should the Employer need to post a Holy picture in the Office Premises rather than educating Employees on health and wealth?

I hope everyone is somewhat educated in the premises where this problem arises. So, take suggestions from Employees and implement the same.

Whose suggestion will work to solve the current problem and present the Best Employee Award for the suggestion (in the presence of other Employees) and encourage the same for other Employees? By doing this, some ego will arise, and they will try the solution for that. Instead of educating Employees, why should we need to post Holy Pictures and install CCTV Cameras?

Suggestion:

1) Invite Greenpeace / CRY Foundation to show how people are suffering from garbage, etc., and ask them to give a presentation to all your Employees about general awareness of Health and Wealth.

My request is not to post Holy Pictures and install CCTV Cameras. Just educate Employees and take suggestions from them.

Just put it on the notice that anyone who is found spitting shall have to clean the entire wall or get it painted to save on the man-hours. This will instill a sense of fear among them.

Regards,
Santosh

Hi Ashok,

Frisking is not the correct solution for stopping the problem. Get the solution rather than forcing employees to stop their habits. In some areas, habits are a significant strength of employees. Aristotle said: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." Anonymous said: "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." "The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." Don't be so rude with employees and try to understand why they are engaging in such misbehavior habits in the office premises. Motivate them.

Same problem I faced in my company. I found solutions as follows:

1. I placed dustbins with disposable plastic covers in all areas where spitting is a problem.
2. I talked with all workers and formed a committee represented by them and one management staff member to address these issues.
3. Strict restrictions on chewing tobacco and smoking in the work area were implemented.
4. Punishments such as cleaning the walls were imposed on those identified causing nuisances, etc.

As a result, I achieved positive outcomes, and the workers' committee is now taking the initiative to make our factory green and organizing workshops for health awareness programs.

SUBRATA SARKAR

Pasting or painting holy pictures will definitely help, but the best way to control this menace would be to correct the root cause. Train them and create awareness. Motivate them to keep the premises clean. If it still continues, install CCTV cameras and punish the culprits in public. Show the videos to all employees. Present "Before & After" photos and slideshows. All the best.

We had a similar problem. After strict frisking, we have started collecting loads of Gutka. Now the situation is completely under control. We took this as a CSR hygiene activity. Great success at last, so keep cool. Get a military discipline in the plant, be after them.

Regards,
Bharat Ketkar

As suggested by Vikas Sharma, also add some punitive amount to offenders. It will work, as I implemented in my unit.

Regards,
R.K. Yadav
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Dear all, if people are spitting on the wall outside the office, on the wall, or in the staircase, you should first call the sweeper to wash it clean. Then, place a "Peakdaan" in some location and paste holy pictures elsewhere. For the bathroom, please put up a notice that says, "BEHAVE LIKE A MAN... DO NOT SPIT HERE."

Regards, Manoranjan

Dear,

We need to be a little tough. Please ensure the following for the best results:

(a) Get the walls repainted.
(b) Publish adequate notices/warnings.
(c) Depute security personnel to monitor the defaulters. Impose a fine of Rs 100/- on the first caught and increase it by Rs 100/- for subsequent offenses.
(d) Inform the respective HODs for counseling.

Regards,

Deepak Agarwal

Hi all,

Someone else has said earlier that by giving a specific location for smoking can control the situation. This is absolutely wrong because we are working in a competitive environment and everyday things are going to change. We lose working hours every day, and production will suffer.

We have only 9 hours a day for work, including lunch break and tea break, and now we have exactly 8 hours to work. If an employee leaves the place at regular intervals from work for smoking or chewing gutka, pan masala, the working efficiency of that particular person goes down, and the company suffers a huge loss in terms of production.

1. Are there proper spaces demarcated for urinals?

2. Is tobacco/Gutka banned on the premises?

3. Does the top demonstrate what is required?

4. Counsel the Gutka-eating people.

5. Waste bins have to be strategically placed to eliminate spitting on walls.

6. Deploy contract labor to whitewash walls as soon as they get dirty; after repeated cleaning, the dirtiness will dramatically decrease.

Somesh Natn

Dear Friends,

My uncle is a banker, and he was facing a similar problem, especially outside the bank premises in Varanasi, on the staircase. He tried various alternatives, but to no avail! So, he painted the staircase in saffron! Now, even if people spit paan on the stairs, it makes no difference! ;)

Regards,
Rahul Chhabra

Example: Earstwhile Raymond Cement Works - on appeal of MD, all the employees stopped using any kind of toxic matter like tobacco, cigarettes, pan, and all for a healthy situation; personal health and housekeeping.

Moral: Convincing people with logic and self-discipline can stop spitting. In India, next to corruption is spitting on the wall. The culprit is pan masala; ban it.

I totally disagree (agree with a few of my friends) with you all. Painting holy pictures is an insult to Hinduism. Let me introduce myself. I'm a management consultant. At one of my clients, what we did is we colored the walls of the toilet with very dark colors. This way, people started using the place less. We also provided a spit pit near the toilet (we tried to stop people from eating by charging heavy fines). Pictures of gods are really an insult. I would even suggest that they be removed from those places where they are already placed.

Sir,

Curtail spitting right from where it originates. Security personnel will take away and keep safe the gutka/pan masala from the workers and return it when they punch out and leave the premises. If checking or confiscating the tobacco or pan masala or gutka is not working, when the act is being committed (while spitting), the person may be charged or, to a lesser extent, fined with some non-monetary penalties, like writing impositions on self-procured paper - not from the office. Or asked to address a gathering of workmen on the hazards of chewing tobacco. A known chewer may be put in charge of curtailing spitting, and his deeds may be rewarded amidst a forum.

Dr. TVV

You should display the notice on the board and distribute copies to every area. If an employee spits anywhere on the factory premises, strict disciplinary action will be taken against them, including the possibility of a fine.

Regards,
Neeraj Shrivastava
ITD Cementation India Limited

Hey vikash1017, I just wanted to ask, won't this solution be too expensive for a medium-scale business? I suppose there may be a better solution for this problem because we are facing the same issue here.

Here are a few steps to follow:

1. Install CCTV Cameras.
2. Install Spittoons.
3. Display a notice on the notice board stating: "DO NOT SPIT in the Office Premises. If caught, the company will not impose any fines, but you will be required to paint the wall."

I hope these points are helpful.

Best regards,
Arpita

As the saying goes, SAAMA, DAANA, BEDA, DANDA... Politely tell and train them, then the activity goes to punish them. There was a right suggestion that uses the known chewer to control the problem and make him talk about problems that arise out of chewing gutka or tobacco.

Hello, I too am always shocked by our poor hygiene and civic sense. While I too have noticed that those small religious symbols and "god" tiles placed in strategic corners do the trick, I feel that a continuing program of education would also be a long-term solution. This way, a sense of "own-ness" could perhaps be inculcated in the staff, and they themselves could be carriers of the message of "This is not right. This is filthy, and we should not treat any space in this way. It is also a carrier of disease." All the best!

Controlling Spitting in Factory Premises

It is an uphill task to control spitting on the walls, especially inside the factories' premises. It can only be prevented by installing spittoon boxes, increasing workers' awareness at regular intervals, putting up signboards, and finally introducing a debit system.