Another Hygiene Issue

LindaS

We are a wireform manufacturer and many of our employees (not all) wear different types of gloves to keep their hands clean and keep the oil from the wire off of them.

I have had several employees complain about another employee (all female) who apparently does not remove her gloves when she uses the bathroom and, obviously, does not wash her hands afterward.

This is bothering these people because the parts she produces are handled by these people, some of whom do not wear gloves.

Any suggestions???

Paul in Cannon Beach

This sounds like an issue that could/should be handled by her supervisor.

Are fresh gloves available in a convenient location? You might consider what steps you could take to make it easier for the employee to do the right thing.

Regardless, if you expect EEs to wash hands after they use the restroom I'd write her up if for not doing so. The difficult part would be observing her in the act.

Dasher

What ever happened with good ole peer pressure in the workplace! Did it occur to these reporting/complaining people to just say to her " oh, my gosh, you need to remove those gloves and wash your hands after a bathroom break".

Now a supervisor, and even perhaps you as the HR professional, have to deal with this. So a conversation would be the best way to handle it, IMHO.

LindaS

Thanks for the responses.

Yes, she has her own box of gloves and they are replaced whenever she needs more.

I figured I would have to talk to her but am not looking foward to it. This is an EE who has been here a LONG time and had a real attitude problem. It would not surprise me if she were doing this just to get a rise out of people.

sonny

Just curious, but how do they know she doesn't remove them?

LindaS

I think I know what you are getting at but from the reports I have received, the gloves are on when she goes into the stall and are on when she comes out of the stall. I guess you could say it is assumed that she does not take them off.

NaeNae55

I would simply put a sign up in the bathroom where it would be impossible to miss:

"Please show your respect for other employees by remembering to remove your gloves before using these facilities, and to wash your hands before leaving. Other employees will appreciate your consideration."

I had an awkward bathroom situation once, and a well worded sign helped dramatically. The sign came down after a few months and the problem did not re-occur.


Good luck!

Nae

LindaS

Awesome idea!! Thanks!!