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Q: Have you ever seen/used a "suggestion box" in China?
After more than a year of membership (and 3.5 years in China), I just noticed my gym has a suggestion box the other day. It even says "Suggestion Box"...in English! First time I had seen one in China! Seeing as it was empty, I added a couple entries. Mundane boring stuff like "add shower curtains to the shower stalls", "fix the broken water fountain", "fix the broken gym equipment".
Have you ever seen or used one? Do you think anyone reads the suggestions? Do you think anyone gives a rat's ass about submitted suggestions?
The only time in my life I've ever used a suggestion box was at a job in an IT company back home where some brilliant HR guy thought a suggestion box would be a good idea to get people more involved in their work environment. My note simply said "get better HR people"
I've seen a suggestion box at a medical clinic once in China. I generally think a suggestion box is entry level soft power, show "we care" and then ignore and say "everyone puts in notes saying everything is great the way it is"
There's one at my local police station.... It's a trap!
There's a glass suggestion box at my school. I put a note in it, listing some class materials that needed to be replaced (colouring pens and so on). There was a big commotion, and I was asked to 'admit' to being the one who wrote the suggestion, as I was the only English speaker who could have written it. They told me not to do it again, as the suggestion box is for the kids and parents only. The welcomeness of suggestions also explains why I'm not invited to meetings anymore. I tell you, guys: this country ... it's one-of-a-kind!
I saw one at the Friendship Hotel when friends came to visit me (my apartment is a one bedroom and 4 of them came so they stayed there). The suggestion box was actually so full you could not stuff another one in if you tried. That was in 2012. I went to the same hotel last week for a training seminar, and I noticed the box was stuffed full again. I am wondering if they ever emptied it from 2012 or are those the same suggestions I saw back then? Maybe the box is just a PR stunt to give the illusion that they actually care?
