How Do You Encourage Employees to Read the Office Newspaper During Breaks?

Hi,

I have a question regarding how to circulate information about reading the daily newspaper kept in the office during break or free time.

Regards,
Raji

It is sad that people are reading less and less of newspapers or any printed material. Discuss this matter at the end of any meeting. Motivate people to read newspapers instead of reading news on their computer or mobile screens. This would be more comfortable for their eyes, and they will get authentic and in-depth coverage of issues as well as good opinions from the columnists of newspapers.

Dear Raji, As an employer or the representative of your employer, your concern should be to improve the communication skills of the employees. However, that does not mean one should issue a circular on the importance of reading newspapers during break time. If you do so, will it not be paternalistic?

Reading is a good habit. To improve one's writing skills, reading is important. Reading also enhances one's personality. However, how one spends their time during a break is an individual's choice. Issuing a circular on the importance of reading newspapers, regardless of altruistic intentions, is treating employees as juveniles and intruding on their privacy. Let your MD remain the head of the organization but not a patriarch!

Instead of issuing a circular, your MD may mention in a routine meeting of HODs that they need to encourage their subordinates to read the newspapers during break time. This important piece of communication can be conveyed informally.

For Mr. Raj Kumar Hansdah-ji: Nice to see you on this forum after a prolonged interlude. Yes, reading habits are declining very fast. Nevertheless, this is what the current generation is!

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

Thanks for Mr. Divekar's detailed response, which is very relevant and useful.

To add to his suggestions: discussing news published in newspapers during tea or lunch helps inculcate this habit. For example, "The Economic Times' view is totally different than what I read in HT on the xyz issue...", might set the ball rolling and inspire others to read.

Dear colleagues,

In response to a simple query on how to communicate to employees that newspapers are available for reading during lunch breaks and encourage them to do so, it is interesting to note the long-winded, digressed, and off-center verbose views from some. Whether reading newspapers improves communication skills or not is itself questionable.

A suitable communication on the notice board regarding the availability of newspapers for reading during lunch breaks is good enough, in addition to placing the newspaper stand at a conspicuous place. It is a good gesture on the part of the management, but it would be better not to expect too much from this.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultant

Dear Mr. Vinayak Nagarkar,

Is it necessary to inform employees to read newspapers during their breaks? Should a circular be issued on this matter? Can employees not access newspapers located at the front office or elsewhere? Do they not understand the importance of reading newspapers?

Do honeybees need to be directed to honey? Bees travel vast distances in search of a drop of honey. Similarly, a career-focused or curious individual is always seeking knowledge. Educating school children on the significance of reading newspapers differs from educating professionals.

Moreover, your doubt regarding whether reading newspapers enhances communication skills is perplexing. I have been reading newspapers for the past 36 years and have greatly benefited. However, there is a distinction between casual reading and thorough reading.

Thank you,
Dinesh Divekar

Reading a newspaper is not an end in itself. The purpose of reading is to improve knowledge of day-to-day events, communication, comprehension, and also to learn new words. Therefore, a reply expanding the scope of the query is acceptable and good. Drafting a reply or email for the querists is not our job, but to tackle larger concepts and legal aspects of the query where applicable.