My husband was just reminded of a time when his former employer's HR manager decided to patrol bathroom time. A note was attached to their checks, saying they need to take advantage of their break times to use the bathroom. Blah, blah, blah…
The uproar was furious and immediate then spread like wildfire through the plant. As the men gathered together to discuss the new order, he overheard them saying:
worth noting, 98% of these men are from southern Tennessee or northern Alabama. The “holler” accent is strong.
“You cain't tell me when to shit, by gawd”
“I'm old, I cain't be holding my ass lahk that! I ain't wearing no damn diapers to hold my shit til break!”
“Break is when I eat my sammich. I ain't about to shit n sammich!”
Guys were tag teaming shits throughout their shifts. As soon as a toilet was open, another guy would go in. Minimum 20 minutes. Smoking as they “shit”, in a no-smoke facility.
The supervisors were 38 hot and basically green lit the whole thing, participating as well. 2 days of minimal CNC or wire room die cutting productivity. Much scrappage of dies, from nonconforming cuts.
An inside salesman saw the note, heard about the shit-in, saw the steady stream of workers in & out – told to owner that the owner better shut that shit (pun intended) down, immediately. Explaining the illegality of the mandate.
Owner issued a retraction and the Great Shit-in of 2011 ended.