Despite the best efforts of its professional contractors, the portable sanitation industry still has something in common with the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield. It doesn’t get any respect.
You hear the snickers any time portable restrooms become part of a news story. I reported on my blog recently at www.promonthly.com that organizers of an event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., were worried about being able to provide enough restrooms for an event. The television media reported the facts with a straight face, but reporters and news talk pundits couldn’t help themselves from throwing out some potty humor after they read the headlines.
Also recently, a photo of an errant hot-air balloon careening into a group of restrooms went viral and was sent to my PRO e-mail box by several people. The photo was always accompanied by a punch line about the balloon hitting four “buildings.’’
And whenever I read an online news account involving a portable sanitation-related mishap, it’s always followed by a string of readers who respond with “bathroom humor’’ commentary. Sometimes the crassness of the comments in the face of a tragedy is sickening.
As an example, earlier this year a woman in Florida was killed after a restroom flew off a carrier trailer and hit her car. The online account of the story was followed by a comment that read: “How crappy is that?’’ There were numerous comments on newspaper websites that were far more vulgar, and thankfully the newspapers generally decided to remove the comments from their sites.
NO JOKING MATTER
But it keeps happening. A few weeks ago, a newspaper in the Carolinas reported that a flatbed trailer hauling restrooms crashed, injuring the driver of another vehicle. What was the reader response? “Gotta watch out for those ‘lavatory’ retrievers,’’ said one poster to the website. “I guess traffic isn’t the only thing backed up here,’’ said another. They go on and on and on. And most comments are far worse than these.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The knee-jerk reaction to make fun of portable sanitation has to end for contractors to be recognized for the critical public services they provide. It’s sad when the first thing the general public does when portable restrooms are mentioned is tell a joke. And I’ll argue that this “bathroom humor first’’ attitude is costing contractors more than respect. It’s costing them money.
If an event planner or foreman on a construction site snickers when your truck pulls into view, the laughter doesn’t do anything for your ability to build a solid working relationship with customers. Are these decision-makers more or less likely to follow your advice on the number and practical placement of units on a work site if they just got done telling a joke about the products you offer? I’ll argue the answer is “less.”
So what can we, as an industry, do to stem the tide of bathroom humor? Here are a few suggestions for starters:
Don’t laugh when you hear a joke. I think PROs, in general, are just darn nice people who don’t want to offend anyone and work real hard to get along with their customers. Sometimes it’s easier to turn the other cheek and let out a little chuckle to acknowledge that same tired, old joke you hear at a jobsite practically every week. But when you do that, you reinforce the behavior and say it’s all right to belittle the work done by your crews. You don’t have to laugh.
Keep your own jokes to yourself. Go ahead and enjoy a funny one-liner or story related to your industry — just like the ambulance-chasing lawyers might do over a beer at the end of the day — but keep them among your friends in the industry. Don’t broadcast the funny story about the restroom that tipped over with someone in it at every stop on your route today. Resist the urge to put slogans on your truck or website that will keep people from taking your work seriously.
Reach out to the media as a restroom expert. It seems like portable sanitation is coming up more often in the news these days, especially where contractors are serving special events. The public is getting more attuned to quality restroom products and services and you can help the media send out a message that raises expectations and changes attitudes about the portable restroom experience. If you put a new restroom trailer into service or enhance the services you offer for backyard weddings or special events, call your local newspaper or television news outlets and tell them about it. Invite them to have a look at how the industry is growing and changing.
Continue to build professionalism in your ranks. Workers in many trades have sought ways to improve their image in the public’s eyes. And it’s brought them greater respect and revenues. When’s the last time you saw a plumbing or heating and cooling contractor on the job without a uniform? More and more contractors are upgrading the tools they use to do the job and carry themselves as professionals who are knowledgeable and solve problems. PROs who follow the same path to professionalism will be rewarded.
Become active in a local trade group. In recent months, we’ve included articles talking about joining the local Chamber of Commerce or other networking groups in your community. Getting involved in one of these groups will put you on equal footing with other professionals in your hometown. Not only will you rub elbows with potential new customers; many of these groups do good things for the community, which is something you can feel good about.
