Conference 7.286::digital

297.0. "Restroom policy :-)" by ECC::JAERVINEN (May all your loops be infinite) Mon Apr 06 1987 10:47

    This is a bit late now, but at least it is in good time
    for April 1, 1988....
    
    
To:       All Employees

From:     Employee Relations Dept.

Subject:  Restroom Trip Policy



An internal audit of employee restroom time (ERT) has found that this
company significantly exceeds the national ERT standard recommended by
the President's Commission on Productivity and Waste. At the same time,
some employees complained about being unfairly singled out for ERT
monitoring. Technical Division (TD) has developed an accounting and
control system that will solve the problems.

Effective 1 April 1987, a Rest-room Trip Policy (RTP) is established.

A Rest-Room Trip Bank will be created for each employee. On the first
month of each month employees will receive a Rest-Room Trip Credit
(RTC) of 40.

Rest-room access will be controlled by a computer-linked voice-print
recognition system. Within the next two weeks, each employee must
provide two voice prints (one normal, one under stress) to Personnel.
To facilitate familiarity with the system, voice-print recognition
systems will be operational but not restrictive during the month of
April.

Should an employee's RTB balance reach zero, rest-room doors will not
unlock for his/her voice until the first working day of the next month.

Rest-room stalls have been equipped with timed tissue-roll retraction
and automatic flushing and door-oprning capability. To help employees
maximize their time, a simulated voice will announce elapsed ERT up to
3 minutes, A 30-second warning buzzer will then sound. At the end of
the 30 seconds, the roll of tissue will retract, the toilet will flush
and the stall door will open. Employees may choose whether they wish
to hear a male or female "voice". A bilingual capability is being
developed, but is not yet on line.

Tp prevent unauthorized access (e.g. sneaking behind someone with an
RTB surplus, or use of a tape-recorded voice) video cameras in the
corridor will record those seeking access to the rest-room. However,
consistent with the company's policy of respecting the privacy of its
employees, cameras will not be operative within the rest room itself.

An additional advantage od the system is its capability for automatic
urine analysis (AUA). This permits drug-testing without the demeaning
presence of an observer and without human error in switching samples.
The rest rooms and associated plumbing are the property of the company.
Legal Services has advised that there are no privacy rights over
voluntarily discarded garbage and other like materials.

In keeping with our concern for employee privacy, participation in AUA
is strictly voluntary. But employees who participate will be eligible
for for attractive prizes in recognition of their support for the
company's policy of a drug-free workplace.

Management recognizes that from time to time employees may have a
legitimate need to use the rest room. But emploees must also recognize
that their jobs depend on this company's staying competitive in a
global economy. These conflicting interests should be weighed, but
certainly not balanced.


Originally appeared in Los Angeles Times (April 1, 1987).

    
    You might want to read Mike Barnacle's column in the Boston Globe
    today.  This seems to be catching, or there's a "leak" at Digital.
    
    
    
    JR

    re: .1
    
    The leak, if you want to call it that, is inward.  That memo has been
    circulating through a number of different companies for several years.
    The copy Barnacle saw was in a Boston Edison newsletter. 

re: .1

Well, it'll show up in Digital Review some day soon....


			Nigel

    My father sent me a copy of it that is circulating around McDonald
    Douglas, he thought I would like it... same thing as what is going
    around DEC....
    
    Gale Kleinberger