Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute

I have been living in Philadelphia for 5 years. For the most part, I like it. It has a number of advantages. For example, one can live, work, and bike in the downtown area.  There is really no need to own a car because one can walk, taxi or bus to get where ever and whatever you need.

But the problem in Philly that leaves me befuddled everyday is the litter. Yes, I know it's cleaner than it used to be, as I have been told many a times.  But it is still filthy.  I see people of all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, etc. just throw their trash right onto the ground.  Sometimes when they are mere feet away from a trash can.  This is especially true when there is a parade or a 5K run or if there is cause for celebration, like the Phillies winning the World Series.

People gather together and they point and they cheer, and then they leave their trash.
Sadly, this reminds me of what I've been hearing lately about a good friend's experience in their new job.
And I'm reminded their problem is nothing I have not heard before or experienced myself.

My friend started a new job a couple of weeks ago.  As it goes with most jobs, the employer gathered people together, pointed at a couple of candidates, chose one and everyone cheered: employer has new employee; employee has new job.  But as of day one on the job, the cheering had already ended.  My friend after a couple of weeks cannot get any answers specific to payroll cycles, clarification on when benefits begin, what their schedule is, or what the goals and expectations are.  For the sake of brevity I won't describe everything that they've gone through. But in short, my friend feels like trash: used up, worthless and left on her own.

I'm going to make the assumption that if you are a subscriber to this blog, you probably agree that employees should not be ignored on their first day and left to feel like they have no worth.  And the solution to my friend's problems is to find a job somewhere else.

But what else can we do?

It's almost as if HR could use a Public Service Announcement reminding people to quit treating other people at work like crap. Actually it would be a sad day if HR had to resort to getting a mascot, some kind of big cute furry animal with a cute catchy name that draws attention to the issue of bad workplace behavior, like Woodsy here does for pollution:

So I would rather suggest: spread what you know to people outside your HR bubble. Don't let these blog articles and conversations stay in the HR bubble.  Talk to family & friends about how wrong bad workplace behavior is and not to treat people like trash.

Don't make us get a mascot.


p.s. Thanks to Joan Ginsburg at HR University for challenging me to spread the word outside of our bubble.