In Norway, women officegoers told to wear red bracelets during periods

[Omaha Steve]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/In-Norway-women-officegoers-told-to-wear-red-bracelets-during-periods/articleshow/7027385.cms

IANS, Dec 2, 2010, 10.54am IST

LONDON: Women staff in offices in Norway have been asked to wear red bracelets when they are on their periods - so that no one would inquire why they were using the toilet more often, a media report here has said.

This "astonishing demand" was revealed in report by a workers' union into "tyrannical" toilet rules in Norwegian companies.

The study said businesses were becoming "obsessed" with lost productivity due to employees spending too much time answering the call of nature, the Daily Mail reported.

It found 66 percent of managers made staff ask them for an electronic card to gain access to toilets.

Toilets of one in three companies were placed under video surveillance, while other firms made staff sign a toilet "visitors book", the union report said.

FULL story at link.

[ananda]

1. And women just agreed to this?

I think there is some sort of communal corporate sickness in the world now.

[Ken Burch]

2. They shouldn't put up with this....well, you know....

The labor unions in Norway should arrange to have the locks changed on all the executive washrooms at large corporations, without telling the bosses about it.

Policies like this are about one thing, and one thing only...stripping people of their dignity and returning them to childlike helplessness. No one should EVER have to ask permission to use the restroom, or have their access to the toilet restricted.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Unfuckingbelievable.

If the business people are freaking out about how much time their employees are spending in the bathroom, perhaps it would behoove them to see just why their employees are doing that.

Maybe they hate their working conditions, for instance???

Jeez.

Next thing you know, the bosses will demand to see the used products from the women. Gotta prove what's really going on, you know. :sarcasm: :eyes:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. damn.

:o

[redirish28]

5. In my wife job she has to request a bathroom break and they are getting so

angry about people going away from desk they are now installing a new system where she has to request time to take her lunch break and when her supervisor wants to speak with her.

Honestly what's next chaining the worker to the desk?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Take her to an employment lawyer immediately.

They MUST be allowed bathroom breaks and lunch breaks. PLEASE TAKE HER TO AN EMPLOYMENT LAWYER.


Yes, I am a lawyer (Juris Doctor, South Texas College of Law, 1985), but I don't play one on TV, nor do I practice law. :D

[derby378]

13. + one brazillion (n/t)

[redirish28]

14. Well, they can have them but if they have a high call volume coming in than

the supervisors can deny the request until the call volume dies down.



It is going to be interesting when that new system is up and running.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

19. She needs to get a doctor's note. Two of them.

One for going to the bathroom and one for eating lunch. Holding your urine weakens the bladder muscles. Not eating when you are hungry can lead to blackouts, nausea, vomiting, and fainting as a result of low blood sugar. Get the doctor to explain these in his note as to WHY she needs lunch breaks and potty breaks.

I once had to stand up and argue with a judge in a hearing to get a lunch break. I was a court reporter - the person that sits in front of the witness stand and bangs on a stenograph machine. I kept telling the judge that I needed to eat lunch. I said, "Would you like the name and phone number of my doctor?" and then he backed down.

Unfortunately, this judge acted like they can't run the courthouse without him, although he is retired now and the courthouse is still there.

He worked his court reporter to death. She was a good friend of mine and she died of respiratory failure at age 40.

[Angry Dragon]

6. I am just going to sit back and wait for the aliens to return

I am going to ask them if I can hitch a ride
any place has got to be better than the direction
the human race is sliding

[whathehell]

8. An absolutely appalling invasion of privacy!... A "Scarlet Letter"...

literally and figuratively.

[cutlassmama]

9. Does one wear a brown bracelet when they have diarreaha?

[HockeyMom]

10. Depends

as Walmart told an employee asking for bathroom breaks. She sued Walmart for that and WON. Maybe these women "on the rag" (gross) as they used to say, should just call in sick during their "times". See how much "productivity" that creates.

Are we going back to sweat shops?

[haele]

11. Yellow bracelets for people with kidney problems, brown for bowel issues, bright green for vomiting

pastel pink or blue for pregnant women.
Alcohol label bracelets for monday morning hangovers.

Man, to be in the latex bracelet business right now...
:sarcasm:

As far as most employers are ultimatly concerned, you are not a person, you are a number. And there's thousands more who want your job just as badly as you do.
Most times,they're at least nice enough that they'll treat you with some respect. But when push comes to shove and they're tossing around words like "productivity" and "bottom line", employees quickly find out that they're no more important to the company than the computer they're assigned to.

Haele

[pnorman]

16. This is by far, the most HILARIOUS posting I've seen here on DU for quite some time!

THANKS! (I really NEEDED that, more than words can express!)

[eppur_se_muova]

18. The "None Of Your Damned Business" bracelet -- with huge spikes! nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. holy shit! how bout a brown bracelet for those suffering from diarrhea

[SheilaT]

15. Good grief!

Do they understand that pregnant women have to go to the bathroom really, really, often.

After my first child was born it was so amazing to be able to go more than forty-five minutes without needing to pee, that I would almost announce to total strangers: I'm going to the bathroom now and it's been two hours since I last went!
Luckily, I realized that total strangers really, really were not interested in my, uh, habits.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. I'd use a chamberpot at my desk ...

but then I bet they'd just complain about that. :evilgrin:

[jeff47]

20. Better solution:

Chamberpot at your boss's desk.

[eppur_se_muova]

21. All the better for them to keep an eye on you with!

And if they occasionally get an eyeful, well, that's just the cost of doing business!