'I wasn't allowed to have water': Employee walks out of working interview because of employer's

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

bizarre rules

I bet this employer can't wait for the android revolution that we've been promised. After all, an android wouldn't need to spend two minutes on the bathroom break that results from being properly hydrated.

This would-be employee walked out of a shadowing session (working interview) after seeing some bizarre red flags from the employer. They had been excited about the idea of the new role since it was paying $2 an hour more than they were currently making. But during their shadowing session, some issues arose that made them second-guess the entire thing.

They were informed by the employer that the shifts would be ten hours long… and they weren't allowed to drink water for the entire duration of their shift. It's just hilarious that the employer somehow thinks that having chronically dehydrated employees would somehow allow them to maintain greater efficiency. Surely adequately hydrated workers would work with more vigor, which would more than make up for the occasional bathroom break.

This is just another case of an employer shortsightedly trying to scrape pennies while being blissfully unaware of how to actually treat their employees as human beings, or actually run a business.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/i-wasn-t-allowed-to-have-water-employee-walks-out-of-working-interview-because-of-employer-s-bizarre-rules/ar-AA12ZQnw

[XanaDUer2]

1. At my former job

In a library, I was told we were allowed to use the restroom when we needed to.

Very generous.

[Hortensis]

2. More than greed going on with this owner -- personality/judgement issues.

Bet that company lost plenty of employees over time.

Big alarms went off during an interview for a what sounded like a good, well-paying job when the owner cheerfully said he required all employees to take a couple of scheduled group breaks a day outdoors because he felt it was good for them and production. Small potatoes compared to not being allowed water (!), but I was interviewing him for my possible employer and immediately identified this as a warning sign, including of disrespect for employees, -- and ours as incompatible temperaments.

[SoBlueInFL]

3. That will lead to future kidney stones. Even people who are not genetically prone to developing r/o

stones will end up with them when chronically dehydrated. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I saw the pain my husband recently experienced and it is not something to take lightly.

[keithbvadu2]

5. A cement block studded with nails ripping its way down through your guts.

A cement block studded with nails, ripping its way down through your guts.

Then, blessed relief when it finally passes after 10 or 11 hours in bed, writhing in pain.

Ask me how I know.

No! Don't ask. Others will vouch for me.

A shot of Demerol in the ER is your friend.

[TeamProg]

9. Kind of like, "I don't remember being stabbed in the flank.." n/t

[JCMach1]

29. That's the optimal... Mine got stuck in a place that ultrasound

Could not fix it. After four weeks waiting to drop it, it took two procedures and stinting

[Delphinus]

14. Welcome to DU!

[Mariana]

4. In the US, it's illegal for an employer to prohibit drinking water.

In fact, the law requires employers to provide water for employees to drink, and to allow them to drink as much as they need.

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1915/1915.88

It's a shame the employer that did this wasn't named, because they need to be reported.

[ZonkerHarris]

7. the article is based on a post on Reddit

[Tommymac]

15. I love good clickbait. Thanks!

[kcr]

21. It seems clickbait now means

Post/story I don't like.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Really Dumb

Making employees uncomfortable does not improve productivity.
2 of the 3 greatest per worker productivity gains in U.S. history were when Ford reduced the work week from 7 to 6 days (for more overall money) & when the 8 hour work day was standardized.
This made workers more rested & more comfortable on the job.
This flies in the face of long accepted efficiency methods.
The management at this company is collectively stupid. They're doing the opposite of what actually works.

[multigraincracker]

17. Best work comes from

employ owned businesses.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. It's A Driver

I don't know that it's a magic pill, but there's no reasonable doubt that it matters substantially.
There are many super productive companies where there is little to no employee ownership.
But, there aren't many of the EO companies that have productivity problems.

[frogmarch]

10. In the 70s I worked at

a place where the manager told us employees that we were allowed one toilet break per 8-hour shift, and that we each had to bring our own toilet paper.

The manager was let go when the board of directors heard about it. They said we should be allowed to use the toilet whenever nature called, and that the tp would be furnished.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. I Really Don't Get That

I was a manager for a really long time.
What possible professional benefit did he think from saving money on TP? Managers don't get recognized for saving a grand on paper products. They get rewarded to results that payback 2 or 3 or 10 or 50 times what the company is paying them.
A thousand bucks isn't going to be the difference between hitting net income target 9n their bonus plan.
Being that pecuniary helps nobody. Just stupid.
I can't put myself in the mind of someone like that.

[IronLionZion]

24. When some people get a little bit of power, they abuse it

there are many terrible managers out there who are happy to rule by fear and punishment. Cruelty is the point.

The real reason many terrible American contracting firms use foreign workers is because American workers will quit or sue or expose them in the media.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. I Suppose

But, as a long time manager, I don't get it.

[Joe Nation]

11. This is purely a business that feels like they have the right to abuse employees

And all because they provide a paycheck. I've met business owners that feel like they can do whatever they want because they are paying people. They feel so superior to the people they employ that they feel it is their God-given right to treat their employees as subhuman. They set up little kingdoms and put themselves on a throne and play God. They would have been the same people during slavery that were the worst of the worst plantation owners. Small men with small minds building themselves a kingdom to rule in order to satiate their inadequacies. They shouldn't even be allowed to ever have employees. Let them do their own work, all of it. Then they would appreciate what others can do.

[Lonestarblue]

12. No employer should be allowed to legally demand that employees have no water for 10 hours.

That’s a health hazard and totally inhumane. And since when did the typical work day become 10 hours? Sounds like we need a lot more unions and a lot more laws on fair labor practices.

Big corporations have been allowed to get away with a lot of practices with the sole intent of depriving workers of benefits that cost the company money they prefer to spend on executive bonuses and stock dividends. I have long been outraged that Walmart abuses some employees by restricting their hours to 30 or less to avoid paying for healthcare or any other employee benefits. They also screw up their workers by forcing them to rotate their hours and days of work frequently, which means it’s hard to hold a second job to help pay the bills. Those who are lucky can get Obamacare, others simply do without.

No wonder workers in this country are so unhappy. Many of them have been treated abominably, including some of those in the MAGA cult who have been told to blame Democrats for their woes when it is Republican policies that allow these conditions. That said, I do not believe Democrats have done enough to address such issues when they have been in control, though I’m happy to see Biden publicize his pro-union stance.

[MyMission]

13. Drinking water would lead to more bathroom breaks

Or possibly more accidents on their shift if they're not allowed to use the restroom as needed, which I suspect would be the case. Bizarre rules indeed.

I suspect the interviewee will do well in life, demonstrating good decision making skills and self esteem.

[Emile]

16. Sounds like they need litter boxes at each work site.

Sarcasm

[Hestia]

19. or have to wear diapers as some on factory lines do...

[Peregrine Took]

18. In a local state office the manager's secretary kept track of how long and how often

the staff went to the bathroom.

These local offices were run like little fiefdoms where the office manager was treated like a Lord.

[IronLionZion]

23. I love interviewers who brag about how terrible they are

as if that were a selling point. At least this employer told candidates about the water/bathroom issue up front. Many just deliberately withhold that information until after you start.

They're living in the past when we were in recession and they had tons of applicants for the worst jobs. Then no matter how bad things get, they'll tell you foreigners are coming to steal your jobs.

Now it's labor shortage because "nobody wants to work anymore". It's good that workers have lots of employers to choose from these days. The opposite was very toxic.

Where are those robots they've been promising?

[TigressDem]

26. Could be misconstrued. Possibly "no water in the work area" means only on breaks or locker.

Working in warehouse they did not allow water or other drinks on "the floor" where we worked because spills could cause safety issues for people especially with forklifts around as if not seen it could cause a moving forklift to slip or slide and possibly injure people.

BUT it does sound weird and harsh.

We just had to drink water at breaks and/or go to our lockers for water. At times as long as the bottle was covered they let us have water with us, but the prime directive was to keep water off the work floor to keep injuries from happening.

We could also take extra bathroom breaks if needed, but were asked to try and do it during regularly scheduled breaks.