Signs Are Important

There you are in a public restroom. I don’t mean this in a Pee Wee Herman unfortunate way, (or fortunate, depending on your personal kicks)….I digress. So, you find yourself in a public restroom, and there it is. In every one. It contains nine dumb-founding words. You can't miss it. And mostly likely, it's not even there for you. But you see it every time. Sometimes it's by the sink. Sometimes it’s by the exit. Sometimes it’s by the hand towels.

The sign.

“Employees Must Wash Their Hands Before Returning To Work.”

I have three problems with this sign.

1. PLACEMENT.
Why isn’t it IN the stall when said employee is doing his or her business and is considering whether or not they will wash their hands today? Why is the sign on the way OUT when the decision has already been made? Of course they’re gonna be like, “Yeah, no thanks. Already made up my mind. Should have told me sooner.” You need to get them much earlier in the decision making process. Those in the stall are what we call in the advertising biz, a “captive audience.” So captivate them with the reasons why they should wash their hands. Even if walking around with pee pee stinky hands isn’t enough of a reason.

2. TARGET AUDIENCE.
What about the rest of us? Oh, so employees have to wash their hands, but not the rest of us? Because, fecal matter that ends up on salt shakers or table tops is OK?

3. MUST?
The use of this word is just hilarious. “Oh, it says must, so I better.” We all know that when someone tells us we have to do something, but no one is there to reinforce that “must,” that it’s not gonna happen. A sign is not going to make this happen people. Especially when you work there. Most employees on their break are already sick of the place and its rules, so yeah, washing hands when TOLD to is most likely not going to be a priority. “I’m gonna go out with my hands like THIS…THAT’LL SHOW ‘EM!” Why not have a sign that reads, “If you work here, wash your damn hands…and if you don’t, we’ll know…how? We just will. Promise you this. So do it!” Any employee will be wondering HOW they’ll know and the hassle of trying to get around the system won’t be worth it so they’ll just do it.

So restroom sign makers, please change your verbiage and sign placement. And remember, patrons also have pee pee stinky hands.

Bet you can’t wait to use that silverware on the table now, huh?