TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
FROM: EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: RESTROOM TRIP POLICY (RTP)
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
both problems.
Effective 1 April 1987, a Restroom Trip Policy (RTP) is established.
A Restroom Trip Bank (RTB) will be created for each employee. On the first day
of each month employees will receive a Restroom Trip Credit (RTC) of 40. The
previous policy of unlimited trips is abolished.
Restroom 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 stations will be
operational but not restrictive during the month of April.
Should an employee’s RTB balance reach zero, restroom doors will not unlock
for his/her voice until the first working day of the following month.
Restroom stalls have been equipped with timed tissue-roll retraction and
automatic flushing and door-opening 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 a female “voice”. A bilingual
capability is being developed, but is not yet on-line.
To prevent unauthorized access (e.g., sneaking in 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 restroom. However, consistent with the
company’s policy of respecting the privacy of its employees, cameras will not be
operative within the restroom itself.
An additional advantage of the system is its capability for automatic urine
analysis (AUA). This permits drug-testing without the demeaning presence of an
observer and without risk of human error in switching samples. The restrooms 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 choose to participate will be eligible 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 restroom. But employees 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. The company
remains strongly committed to finding technical solutions to management
problems. We continue to believe that machines are fairer and more reliable than
managers. We also believe that our trusted employees will do the right thing
when given no other choice.