I'm all in favor of capitalism and efficiency, but this seems a bit much. CLERMONT, Kentucky (AP) -- Employees at the Jim Beam bourbon distillery are getting sour over restrictions on bathroom breaks. Workers on the bottling line are fuming about being limited to four breaks per 8 1/2 hour shift, only one of which can be unscheduled. Extra trips to the bathroom can result in reprimands. Workers with six violations can be fired. The United Food and Commercial Workers local said some of the 100 affected employees have urinated on themselves because they were afraid to leave the line. Some wear protective undergarments and others have feigned illnesses to go home and avoid getting violations, said Jo Anne Kelley, president of the union local. "It's a shame when you feel you have the need to go to the bathroom, but you ask yourself, 'Do I soil myself or do I protect my job?"' Kelley said. The state has slapped the distiller with a citation. Jim Beam appealed; a hearing officer on Wednesday is expected to recommend to a review commission whether to sustain or overrule the citation. The commission's decision can be appealed in court. Jim Beam Brands, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, said its policy strikes a balance between employees' physical needs and the company's productivity needs. The company, which consulted a urologist before imposing the limits, said the time between breaks will generally be about two hours and never more than three. "Our policy is fair and reasonable and it does respect the real needs that our employees have," said Jack Allen, human resources director at the Clermont plant, nestled between lush Kentucky hills about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Louisville. The policy, which took effect in October, was instituted only at the Clermont plant because some workers abused the privilege of unlimited bathroom breaks, the company said. Workers can be exempted with a doctor's note. So far, 29 have gotten waivers for medical necessity and can go as often as needed, Allen said. Margaret Boone, who has worked at the distillery for 34 years, has one violation on her record. "I've held it and it's miserable," said Boone, who has since obtained a medical waiver. "You can only concentrate on looking at the clock and wondering when break time is going to be."
I'm a big union guy and almost always support the everyday worker, but really, 4 breaks in the run of a 8 1/2 hour day are enough. I've worked extensively in a factory environment of about 250 employees, and we only got two scheduled breaks (we're entitled to three, but everyone usually decides to work through one of them to get off 20 minutes early). No one kicks up a fuss if you leave the line in between breaks to go use the washroom once in a while, but rarely does anyone do it more than once per day, if at all. Many days, I've gone the whole 8 hour shift just taking the two scheduled breaks and that's it. Seems to me that we have a bunch of crybabies at the bottling plant. Unless these people have urinary disorders (in which case they should be wearing Depends anyway) or are sneaking down a mug or two of Jim Beam during their shift, four breaks are perfectly adequate.
What a warm, sympathetic guy you are. Hey: the whiskey'll hit the shelves, regardless. Maybe the worker has diabetes? Maybe he or she drinks a lot of water as we all hear and read you should? Maybe the worker drinks something with caffeine in it which makes you have to piss even more? Or maybe their frigging feet hurt and they just want to sit a couple minutes on the can to get off their aching dogs? "Well, they can go get another job if they can't be on their feet 8 hours a day." WHERE?!?!
All I know is that I've worked in an environment like this for a long time. I've been in their shoes, and I think for the average worker, four breaks are enough. If you have Diabetes, you can get a medical exemption to go whenever you have to, which is explained in the article. Dudes.. this policy is not at all unreasonable.
Huh? You honestly think it's possible to regulate a biological function according to a factory's timetable? I mean, when you gotta go, you GOTTA GO. Those workers who are forced to hold it in are looking at possible kidney problems in the future. There are plently of people, myself included, who are perfectly healthy but have to use the restroom on a fairly frequent basis. I know I would walk right out of a job if someone had the nerve to tell me when I could or couldn't use the restroom. Unfortunately, I suspect most of these people really need these factory jobs, and don't have the luxury of quitting. If there are particular individuals who take excessive bathroom breaks, punish them on an individual basis. Don't force an entire factory full of adults to ignore their bodies' normal biological functions.
I drink 2-3 20oz bottles of water at work and maybe one diet coke at lunch. I only go to the bathroom once a day, rarely twice. I don't see what the big deal is. If you can't hold your fluids for two hours then you might have a problem, thus the doctor's waivers. Why not just put catheter's in everyone? Or give everyone a big cup?
"Ms Daisy, how do you think it makes me feel . .. being a grown man . .. having to ask you when i can go make water" - Huck - "Driving Miss Daisy" Rocket River
They should install urinal troughs at the feet of each assembly line worker so that each of them can relieve themselves on demand. Seriously, this is just more union propaganda. 4 bathroom breaks per day is a lot. If that isn't enough, they can go get a medical waiver. Problem solved. Unions are notorious for blowing things out of proportion and rallying public opinion to enhance their leverage in future negotiations. I am a huge opponent of unions -- they attempt to monopolize the labor market, they increase prices for consumers, and they help drive down profits of corporate america and its shareholders. Labor costs, driven by union demands, have bankrupted airlines over the past 30 years and have made it an extremely difficult business to make a profit in. Their selfish, monopolistic tactics truly hinder economic progress, consumer choice, and quality of goods and services across many industries.
Mrs. JB hit it on the head. When you gotta go, you gotta go. I couldn't imagine having a set time I could use the rest room. And Sonny, I drink the same as you, but go to the bathroom around 7 times a day. I've had it checked out, nothing wrong with me...I just like to pee a lot I guess. Nevermind.
Change your name to "IPFreely" There are actually some days when I don't pee until after I get home from work and I didn't go when I woke up either, so I must have a huge bladder or something. But when I drink beer, the potty better be near.
Jim Beam deserves any criticism they get for instituting such a ridiculous policy. Like Mrs. JB said, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Who they hell are they to declare when anyone can and can not take a piss or poop break?? Basically they are playing god. IMO this is a lawsuit waiting to happen for any employee that is/was fired because of this policy.
My god, you guys are pissing machines. You get three scheduled breaks, normally around every two hours. Then you get one unscheduled break for when you really need to go. If you can't handle that you need to go back to potty training. 4 piss breaks in 8 hours is not all that bad.
Red: "Can I take a personal break, boss?" Grocery Store Manager: "You don't have to ask me everytime you have to go to the bathroom" --Red to his grocery store boss - The Shawshank Redemption
I didn't know Jim Beam was a breeding ground for urimicitisis...hey everybody, grab a bucket and let's head over to Jim Beam for a big pee party!
some of these responses are insane! this is ridiculous! i drink at least 120-150 oz. of water per day, and I use the restroom at least 10-12 times per day... now i know i'm not the norm, b/c i actually give a damn about my health, but why should people who choose to drink lots of water be punished??? there is absolutely no logic that can explain limiting restroom breaks!!! if its just 15 minute breaks period (i.e. to stop working and just hang out for coffee, cigs, etc) that might be different... but if ya gotta go, then good grief! and the distillery is appealing the citation??? hell its 10:00am now and i've already been to the bathroom 3x!!!
What is the situation that this had to be written down? I mean d*mn folx posting up in the bathroom? 4 breaks - 2 minutes each [including travel time] yadda yadda yadda hey how about strapping a toilet to their back or put a coin op on the restrooms Rocket River
Well, I would think the policy would be "whatever gets the urine as far away from the whiskey as possible". Seems like it would be in Jim Beam's best interests. Well, that's perfect. If you ever start working at the Jim Beam factory, you can go once at 7:59 AM, twice on morning breaks, once on your lunch break, twice on your afternoon breaks, and once at 5:01 PM. Works out perfectly! I think it's a perfectly reasonable policy, personally. To some degree, you have to submit to some control of your behavior if you work for a large corporation. If it were up to me, I'd have Happy Naked Time 24 hours a day. But my employer has a "dress code" that includes pants, so no go.
Interesting responses. I had a slave driver boss when I first got to Manhattan who called me into his office one day and told me I was using the bathroom too much. I was stunned, but told him I'd piss on the floor of the office near my desk if he preferred, carpet and all. I never heard anything about it again.
I don't think it's the amount of breaks. Because 4 breaks in 8 1/2 hours should be enough. It's the fact that they have to be scheduled ahead of time. The policy sucks.
