Several states are anxiously watching how consumers react to this law, since it may be a solution to reducing the amount of plastic waste generated each year.  Most grocery stores have made their own attempts by encouraging consumers to buy reusable ‘green’ bags.

Is this a sign of what’s to come in the near future?  If yes, then how will it affect business owners and consumers?  It almost seems like the hidden cost of ‘green’ hasn’t been fully examined….

During a recent trip to the grocery store, I had the opportunity to see first hand the challenges of using these ‘green’ bags.  The cashier struggled with trying to keep these bags open because each one was a different size and had different handles, making it impossible to use the bag opener typically used on plastic.  The customer had bought the bags from several different stores (you could see the different logos on each one).

It took the cashier at least 3 times as long to bag a small amount of groceries because the customer had introduced variation into the bagging process….and the cashiers frustration was very apparent.

I understand and appreciate the need to reduce plastic waste and always do my part when possible, but it seems like a few questions need to be answered before we unanimously convert to the ‘green’ approach….

• What is the additional cost to the store owner if the cashier takes longer to bag less groceries?  From a process point of view, you’re introducing variation and inefficiencies into a process that results in a reduced output.  Are we inadvertently making it difficult for a business owner to remain profitable?
• How much turnover will a store owner have to deal with if you increase a cashier’s frustrations?  Will the quality of the bagging be reduced, resulting in unhappy customers?….just think of broken eggs and flattened bread.
• Will consumers be willing to wait longer in line?  Will store owners be forced to hire dedicated baggers to speed up the checkout process?
• Will people mind bringing their own bags? Most people probably won’t mind as long as they’re compensated in some way (i.e. cheaper groceries).

A fews years ago several stores had introduced self checkout lines because of the perceived cost savings it represented.  Many stores have since removed them  because of increased theft and the constant need to assist customers.

If you’re a store manager or owner, I encourage you to work towards an efficient solution before  you’re faced with bagging groceries in any type or size of container…boxes, plastic bags, ‘green’ bags, thermal bags, paper bags, Victoria Secret bags, etc.

I don’t usually watch a lot of TV, but lately I can’t seem to get enough of The Office on NBC.  It’s a comedy that’s filmed as a ‘documentary’ about the office workers of a fictitious paper supply company (Dunder Mifflin) located in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The writers do a nice job of portraying stereotypical characters found in Corporate America, along with the inane activities (e.g. team building, agenda-less meetings, performance reviews) that collectively make up a dysfunctional culture.

The documentary perspective of the show, gives you the impression that you’re in the room with the office workers looking through the camera lense….like you’re the cameraman.  You’ll find the characters occasionally looking directly into the camera during awkward moments so you know exactly what that person is thinking or feeling.  Sometimes the ackwardness is so intense that I have to look the other way, while still laughing.  It’s like when someone says or does something stupid in the office and you glance over at another co-worker to facially express the stupidity….we’ve all done it.

For anyone that’s worked in Corporate America, you’ll recognize the cast of characters….most likely as your co-workers!

Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) – Michael’s the idiot boss that makes you question how he ever landed his job….we’ve all had to report to a Michael at least once in our career.

Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) – Jim’s the bright office worker that performs well beneath his capabilities because anything more would threaten his boss.

Pam Beesley (Jenna Fischer) – She’s the sweet receptionist that let’s everyone walk all over her.

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) – He’s the die-hard, loyal employee that will do anything for the company….and I mean anything!

Meridith Palmer (Kate Flannery) – Meridith brings her personal problems into the office and at times shares a little too much about her personal life….too much information please.

Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) – Stanley’s just biding his time until he can retire, so he’s very removed from company activities and friendships.  He spends most of his day trying to ignore his co-workers and boss.

Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) – Angela minds everyone’s business but her own.  She’s always reminding you that you took 5 extra minutes on your lunch break.

Kelly Kapoor (Mindy Kaling) – Kelly’s always trying to initiate an office romance….even when no one’s interested.

Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) – Be careful of Ryan, he’ll go behind everyone’s back (including his boss) to move up the corporate ladder….he’s very sneaky!

Holly Ryan (Amy Ryan) – Holly’s the naive human resource professional that thinks she was hired to uphold corporate policies, like ethical behavior.  She soon finds out that the written policies are for perception only and realizes that she has to look the other way if she wants to stay employed….I can relate to Holly!

Andy Benard (Ed helms) – Andy’s the back stabbing employee that tries to make others look bad so that he looks better by default.

Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein) – For no good reason, the boss has decided that he just doesn’t like Toby and treats him differently than other employees….I know how Toby feels!

You should really consider tuning into the show once a week.  At the very least, it’ll give you the chance to watch NBC take jabs at American corporate culture and keep you laughing for 30 minutes.  And for anyone (like me) that missed the first few seasons and would like to catch up, TBS has a three hour marathon every Tuesday night….enjoy!

CLICK PLAY BELOW AND BEGIN WORKING LESS! (3:39 min.)

I encourage you to take a few minutes this week to look back at your personal successes in 2009 and identify what you’d like to accomplish in the New Year.

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2009 and your #1 goal for 2010?

Sandra

The interview will be with Denise Robitaille, a published author and industry expert on all things related to Quality Systems (both regulated and non-regulated  industries). She also writes regularly for Quality Digest (just last week she wrote an interesting article on the ‘4 Things You Should Get From Root Cause Analysis‘) and has published several books, one specifically on ‘Root Cause Analysis:  Basic Tools and Techniques‘.  You can read Denise’s bio below….

The interview will take place on Monday, November 23rd.  Once the interview is available, all Current Quality members will be notified and have access to the interview.  If you’re not a member, you can sign up here.

Take care,
Sandra

====================

Denise Robitaille is the author of nine books. She is an internationally recognized speaker who brings years of experience to the quality profession. She is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality. In 2005, she was recognized in Quality Digest as one of the “Drivers of Quality.”

She is a member of US TAG to ISO/TC176, where she participates at the international level with other colleagues in the revisions to the ISO 9000 family of standards. She is also an RAB-QSA certified lead assessor and an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor.

Denise has helped numerous organizations to achieve ISO 9001 registration and to improve their quality management systems. She has conducted training courses for thousands of individuals on such topics as document control, corrective action, root cause analysis, management review, auditing and implementing ISO 9001. Denise’s books include: The Corrective Action Handbook, The Management Review Handbook, Document Control: A Simple Guide to Managing Documentation, The Preventive Action Handbook, Managing Supplier Related Processes and The Insiders’ Guide to ISO 9001:2008 (co-author). She is a regular columnist for Quality Digest and The Auditor and is the author of numerous articles.

For those of you that voted for a topic other than RCA, I’ll use the information below to schedule future interviews.

Thanks for your participation….Sandra

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS HERE

Join Current Quality today so that you can benefit from the upcoming interview.

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Please make sure to select ‘next’, then ’submit’, otherwise your vote will not get captured….thanks.

]]> http://currentquality.com/blog/upcoming-interview-vote-on-topic-of-interest/feed/ 3 http://currentquality.com/blog/7-symptoms-of-poor-behavior-in-the-workplace/ http://currentquality.com/blog/7-symptoms-of-poor-behavior-in-the-workplace/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:46:46 +0000 Sandra Gauvin http://currentquality.com/blog/?p=835 Kanye West, Serena Williams, and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) recently displayed less than favorable behavior in a public setting (not that it’s any more acceptable in private).  It’s so easy to spot poor behavior when it involves celebrities or public figures, especially when it becomes fodder for the tabloids.

But what about behavior in the workplace setting?  We’ve all seen the occasional outburst in meetings due to heated discussions….but on a more subtle level, are we guilty of displaying less than favorable behavior in the workplace everyday?

Over the years I’ve compiled a list known as the 7 symptoms of poor behavior in the workplace.  Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you?….can you add to the list?

1. You check emails during meetings/presentations
2. You respond to emails during meetings/presentations so that everyone can hear the distracting clacking of the keyboard
3. You talk throughout the meetings/presentations in sidebar conversations
4. You show up fashionably late (15-20 minutes) after a meeting has started and ask questions that you would have known the answer to if you had shown up on time
5. You leave your phone on ring during meetings /presentations even after you’ve been asked to put it on vibrate
6. During a one-on-one meeting with your direct reports, you constantly look at the clock or check the caller ID when the phone rings
7. You shoot the messenger in Management Review meetings because the data puts you or your department in an unpleasant light
8. You ….<fill in the blank>

Take care,
Sandra

If you work in a regulated industry, then you most likely have security measures in place that require you to use a pass key to gain entrance into a building or perhaps the campus.  I’ve worked for several companies that did a good job educating the workforce on the importance of security so that the product they’re making, proprietary information, and the employees remained safe at all times.

However, I’ve also witnessed companies that maintained a lax attitude towards security and embedded that attitude in the workplace culture so that employees (including management) didn’t understand or respect security measures.  I mention this because on Sunday, September 13th a Yale graduate student was found dead in a pass key protected building located on the Yale University campus in New Haven Connecticut.

Here are 5 signs that your workplace security is ineffective:

1. Piggybacking….one person opens the door with their pass key and holds the door open so others behind them can enter
2. Servicemen are routinely let in without first being walked to security to get a temporary pass
3. An employee forgets their pass and doesn’t want to bother with a temporary pass so they use a co-workers pass
4. Management thinks the only purpose of the pass key is to unlock the doors
5. Visitors are allowed to roam around unescorted

If  you’ve witnessed any of the security breaches above, contact the head of security immediately and report your concerns.

What pass key security breaches have you witnessed that we can add to the list?

Take care (and stay safe),

Sandra