The office morning tea has sparked a mutiny from the factory floor

Dear Aunty B,

I work for a small manufacturer (yes, there are some of us still around) and like most manufacturers the staff are divided between the factory floor and the office.

Well, recently one of my managers did the right thing and tried to spark up some bonding amongst the office staff with a monthly morning tea on the last Friday of the month.

Problem is, to get to the meeting room where morning tea is being held the office staff have to walk past the factory floor and now I have received an email on behalf of a few workers asking why the office staff get an extra hour to “bond” while the factory staff get only an hour for lunch and a 15-minute smoko.

It’s not a bad question I guess, but this was done with good intentions. Do I have to dump the whole thing or is there a great Aunty solution?

Divided Workplace,

Sydney

Dear Divided Workplace,

Firstly, good on you for flying the flag for Australian manufacturers. We need more like you!

Happily, I reckon I’ve got a solution to your problem – and one that will let you re-unite your entire workforce.

Quite simply, take the morning tea idea to a new level. All of your staff get a lunchbreak, so why not make the last Friday of every month the time for a company-wide barbecue, where the office and factory staff can all mingle and enjoy each other’s company.

Here’s an idea to mend any fences that may have been broken with the morning tea – get the office staff to cook the first barbie for the factory guys.

Be smart,

Your Aunty B

Email your questions, problems and issues to  mpany.com.au”>auntyb@smartcompany.com.au right now!