Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/30/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

Ford gives it's employees 48 minutes, Chrysler 46 minutes. Unless you are sick, who spends that much time in the bathroom at work?

Re: Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

Yesterday I was at a Starbucks here and both bathrooms were being used for weirdos that like doing number 2 in public places. One of the bathrooms had been occupied for at least 20 minutes. There was a long line because of this and nobody could understand what you were doing in a public bathroom for that long.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

Lol, I do not understand this phenomenon at all. Okay, there's an exception if you're truly sick to your stomach. But if it takes you 20 minutes to take a crap, you probably weren't ready to go in the first place. If at first you don't succeed- try again LATER.

Re: Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

It looks like a total of 48 minutes per shift, which I guess would be about 8 hours.

My theory is that they stay in the bathroom 48 min. reading the paper, probably stories about how Japanese car makers build better cars at lower prices.

I interviewed for an HR job with the Honda plant in Alabama and they stop the line for breaks. All assembly line workers on a particular line break at the same time. While it was not discussed, I got the feeling that that meant bathroom time. Lunch breaks for salaried workers were also scheduled and you could not eat or drink at your desk (not even a water bottle--I asked).

They were very anal--no pun intended--about those kinds of things. Everyone (including the professional staff) wore uniforms and the president of the plant's desk was in the same open area as everyone else. There were no offices, no cubical wall, etc. I knew I could not work there! How would I get my internet time in??

Re: Re: Re: Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

Okay, it finally makes sense why it takes sooooo long for some people. There's some people who drop deuces like 2-3 times a day. So I guess that can add up to near an hour. :eek:

Add to that the morning break, the lunch break and the afternoon break and they probably work at least five or so hours out of eight.

On the other hand, I couldn't put lug nuts on passing cars for eight hours...

Most factory workers around here work 10-12 hour shifts. I am 99% sure that the local Saturn and Nissan plants work at least that long. If everyone has to go at the same times, I could see how waiting in line could take a huge chunk out of that time.

Re: Re: Re: Chrysler won't time bathroom breaks
 

I know a guy that takes a little over an hour every morning . . . poor bastard.

When they were originally reporting this on TV, they said the time limit included their morning and afternoon breaks (15 minutes each). It also included from the minute they left the line until the minute they returned to their spot. These plants are HUGE and I don't know where the rest rooms are located in comparison to their work areas, or how many there are, but I could see travel time to and from the rest room could be quite a few minutes too.

What about people who have stomach problems like IBS or Crohn's Disease? Timed bathroom breaks must really suck for them. I know I'd hate it.

Again, based on my tour/interview with the Honda plant in Alabama, each area of the assembly line has their own little break area and rest rooms. That way they don't take extra time to walk far, I guess. Some of the stuff they required was downright creepy.

I was going to mention that, but in all honesty, I think a Crohnie would have a very difficult time working on the line anyway.

Too true. When my IBS is acting up, the last thing I'd want to do is stand on an assembly line without free access to a restroom. :p