December 16 2018
By: Terry L. Mathis
I had a gentleman in a recent workshop who works with the safety of housekeepers in hotels. It was interesting to hear what caused the most accidents as these people cleaned and refreshed guest rooms. He mentioned one of his greatest challenges was the practice of letting maids leave early if they completed their assigned rooms. He said that ever since this policy was instituted, accident rates had skyrocketed. It reminded me of when manufacturing plants paid workers by pieces completed.
It is a natural tendency to want to get value for pay, and paying by the unit seems to be a way to accomplish that. However, like any policy, a pay-for-work-unit should be examined to see how it impacts safety. Some more incentivize taking safety and quality shortcuts than being efficient.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
