What are reasonable bathroom breaks while at work?

[run_to_win]

On one hand I understand the company he works for being pissed.  I would be as well.  I'm paying you to do your job.  This guy is spending 15 or more hours each week reading (or whatever) in the bathroom.

On the other hand it's kind of creepy how easily they are tracking this guy's movements (ahem, no pun intended). 

I personally think Bob is screwed as the company he works for is pulling his internet and personal email use during the day.  If he is screwing around that much on line in addition to the abuse of bathroom time, he's toast.

"Bob" is a thief.  It's employees like "Bob" that cause companies to track all employees.

The company should calculate his hourly rate (weekly salary/40) and then deduct those 15 hours a week. 

[run_to_win]

If you had a co worker taking 16 breaks to smoke and you were stuck working, wouldn't that tick you off?

IF?

"Work" is the short 5-10 minute break that smokers take between cigarettes.

[bsmooth]

IF?

"Work" is the short 5-10 minute break that smokers take between cigarettes.

qft

[fyo]

"Bob" is a thief.  It's employees like "Bob" that cause companies to track all employees.

Does that mean we can shoot him in the back with no legal repercussions?

[Phishfan]

I have never heard of having to scan your badge to enter a bathroom. This guy is definitely taking too much time. You cannot make the excuse "does he get his work done" because if he didn't spend so much time doing whatever he is doing he would get even more work done making his company more efficient.

[Brian Fein]

The "Does he get his work done" argument makes the assumption that there's a finite amount of work to be done, and when you hit the end, its over.  We all know that there's always MORE work to be done.

The question is, really, how is his performance relative to his co-workers - does he get more work done in a day?  less?  the same?

[MaineDolFan]

I have never heard of having to scan your badge to enter a bathroom.

I wish our floor would put a scan lock on our bathroom.  We take up the 3rd floor of a very nice building.  Our security / front desk person does a fantastic job keeping the bathroom nice and everyone here is clean / orderly.  There is a sketchy mortgage company (the type of place that seems to have 70% turnover, you never see the same faces month to month)  on the floor below us and, for whatever reason, sometimes they use our bathroom instead of the one on the second floor.  You always know when they've been in there, paper towels everywhere, sink partially turned on, pages from an internet article tossed everywhere in a stall.  We complain to building management all the time, I wouldn't be surprised if they do something like that.

[SportsChick]

I've worked in buildings where there is a key to the bathroom - each floor has a different key

[Sunstroke]

Does that mean we can shoot him in the back with no legal repercussions?

Only if the scanner shows that he forgot to wipe...

 

[run_to_win]

The "Does he get his work done" argument makes the assumption that there's a finite amount of work to be done, and when you hit the end, its over.  We all know that there's always MORE work to be done.

In my experience very few of "us" know that there's always more work to be done.

Give the average employee three tasks and turn your back.  He/she will accomplish one and then sit and wait for further instructions.

[Phishfan]

In my experience very few of "us" know that there's always more work to be done.

Give the average employee three tasks and turn your back.  He/she will accomplish one and then sit and wait for further instructions.

Maybe it's just my job, but very few of my tasks take just one day. I would also assume this guy works in some type of profession that is very similar given the high security of the building. Who knows, he could have a menial job and only is given very limited tasks at a time, but other than physical labor work (and usually even in those jobs) I still knew what was coming next and to start on it when ready.

[bsmooth]

Does that mean we can shoot him in the back with no legal repercussions?

lol. Only if you are old and he is an illegal.