Qwest's Scatological Efficiency Field techs annoyed with Qwest's hatred of bathroom breaks Tipped by MrMoody 
If recently grumbling Sprint support reps thought they had it bad, the Rocky Mountain News reports that a Colorado Qwest supervisor handed out urinal bags and told field techs not to waste company time by looking for restrooms. "We deal with a lot of silliness in corporate America, but you've got to admit, it takes the freakin' cake," says one CWA worker, who insists management repeatedly suggests they not waste time with traditional facilities. Qwest public relations insists that use of the bags isn't mandatory: Qwest spokeswoman Jennifer Barton said, "There's no policy whatsoever" requiring field technicians to use the bags. "They are there for convenience, and they are there because employees asked for them," she said. Qwest, like many companies with workers in the field, has for years offered portable urinal bags as an option. According to the " Brief Relief" product website, use of the bags can "boost morale" and are "a low cost benefit companies can provide their employees." Companies are apparently concerned both with employees wasting time on bathroom breaks, and the potential legal liabilities involved in using customer facilities during installs.
|
  mrchrisOut and aroundPremium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY | What? It's part of human nature, what the fuck?
Seems they care more of profits than employees. How would they offer these bags to female employees? | |
|  |  rcdaileyDragoonflyPremium
join:2005-03-29
Rialto, CA | Re: What? Perhaps female employees should be offered chamber pots? | |
| |  Quake110Premium
join:2003-12-20
Ottawa, ON | I think this is the time where they should build robots to do the field jobs.
The movie "I Robot" wasn't far off after all... | |
| | | | said by mrchris:Seems they care more of profits than employees. How would they offer these bags to female employees? Hello and welcome to reality. It's *always* been like that. Where have you been all your life? | |
| | lawrence171Evilly Yours - Evilness
join:2001-12-24
Canada | Using customer facilities can be an issue. Especially disgruntled customers.
I believe Comcast should really look into this because they seem to be pissing a lot of customers off.
--
What I used to be I no longer am... God, why can't you freeze time for my sake? | |
|
| |  MrMoodyFree range slavePremium
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Potties Hey, my first accepted tip. 
If this is that much of a problem, maybe they should install RV toilets in their trucks. Of course, then someone would have to empty/maintain them.
--
The public is a poor business manager. | |
| | |  ThrowDemsOutIf you can't convince 'em, confuse 'emPremium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4
1 edit | Re: Good idea said by UHF:I wouldn't mind having some of these. It's better than freezing my pecker off at a remote site when it's -10F outside. I really don't see the problem with handing them out. Now if they really said that the techs have to use them instead of using a restroom, that could be a problem. When your 10 miles or more from the nearest facility, using these bags seems like a great idea. I don't see the problem either. Those complaining here are just more of the anti-corporate whiners that see evil any time a business is involved.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
| | |  PathfinderDazed ConfusedPremium
join:2000-03-26
Mount Vernon, NY
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Good idea said by ThrowDemsOut:said by UHF:I wouldn't mind having some of these. It's better than freezing my pecker off at a remote site when it's -10F outside. I really don't see the problem with handing them out. Now if they really said that the techs have to use them instead of using a restroom, that could be a problem. When your 10 miles or more from the nearest facility, using these bags seems like a great idea. I don't see the problem either. Those complaining here are just more off the anti-corporate whiners that see evil any time a business is involved. Hate to make a me too post but I agree. My last job I was out in the field all day and could sure have used a couple of them. | |
|
|  danawhitakerSpace...The Final FrontierPremium
join:2002-03-02
Urbandale, IA | I can see them being available as an OPTION. But the article implies that employees were told to use them in lieu of attempting to procure real restroom facilities. That is utter BS. Frankly, I'd rather have the Qwest guy use the restroom in my house than wonder what he's doing in my driveway in the truck for so long with his pants unzipped. You know someone would catch a glimpse of something untoward and it'd be a "Qwest hires pedophiles" headline then. While I'm sure most employees would be discreet about it, there's always going to be a bad apple or just someone using poor judgment to ruin it and give all techs a bad name.
If this were done in a standard office, or a school (see the story from a few days ago about a kid who had to pee in a lunchbox because his teacher wouldn't let him leave), there would be an uproar. Obviously anyone working in a remote area with sparse access to restrooms, Qwest technician or some other field technician, would need to carry these with them. But as long as they can access restrooms, they should be able to, and not made to feel pressured to avoid wasting company time.
--
You're watching Sports Night on CSC so stick around... | |
| | |  jaaPremium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
kudos:2
·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
| Re: Good idea You must have read a different article than I read. The one I read clearly stated it was given as an option, and their use was not required.
--
NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. | |
| | | | Mce SaintPremium
join:2007-10-03
Saint Louis, MO Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: Good idea Of course in Corporate America there is "required" and then there is "required." It appears that official Qwest policy does not *mandate* (i.e., require) the use of the bags . . .
However, because the bags ARE handed out, the REALITY is that some of Qwest managers ARE going to "question" or "chide" or "make a mental note about" a field tech who does take the time to search out a facility rather than use the bag. Assume your a field tech "on the bubble" during the next round of lay-offs and Qwest has to decide between two equal field techs: one who searches for a bathroom and refuses to use "the bag" and one who uses "the bag" - any guess as to which one gets the axe first?
No, the bag may not be officially required, but for field techs the potential is there for a decision to NOT use the bag to come back against that feild tech. If you have the *option* to use the bag (and reduce your down time) and you do not avail yourself of that option, then Qwest can use that as a measure of your "judgment" or "commitment" to the company . . . and it will become part of the decision-making process about the field tech's job (should we fire this guy/gal? should promote this guy/gal?). Oh, it won't be the ONLY or SOLE piece of information, but - trust me - "bag use" or lack thereof, WILL find its way into a decision to keep/promote a field tech . . . possibly to even "cover-up" a discriminatory reason (age, sex, religion)to terminate or not promote. | |
| | | | | | | Re: Good idea Mce Saint,
THANK YOU. You are the first and only person here to explain the difference between "Required" (meaning the company desired way), and "Optional" So very well put by you.
They may CLAIM it is OPTIONAL but most often it is a CHEAPSKATE American Corporation ALWAYS looking at the BOTTOM LINE. NOW with this ECONOMY and GAS at $4.00 in CA already EXPECT MORE LUDICROUS "OPTIONAL" Corporate COST CUTTING RHETORIC. All this while manufacturing, airline and credit card call centers are ALL SENT OFFSHORE. Again for cutting the budget.
I am a 53 year old male. When I was in my early 20's and paying for college, I worked for the "OLD" AT&T. I did directory assistance in the Orange II office. We covered all of Southern California BACK WHEN 213 & 714 AREA CODES were the only ones for pretty much ALL of SoCal. NO COMPUTERS, we had LARGE METAL FRAME directories on three sides of us in our cubical.
We had 28 seconds to look up a number BY HAND if it was busy, and up to a whole 32 seconds if it was busy. AWT Average Work Time = Time on the clock DIVIDED by Number of calls.
AT&T kept 82% of our and the Orange I office on one of three parts of job dismissal. The first was simply a "friendly discussion" with your supervisor. I didn't know that it was a FORMAL EVENT on my employment and the Fist Phase of "Job in Jeopardy". Third Phase was Dismissal.
They had (and I understand that till very recently some Telcos had), "Quiet Rooms" one for men and one for women. Each next to the same rest room. At times coming or going to work, or lunch we could pass by and hearing women who had been working there over 20 years crying because of the "Job in Jeopardy" situation.
If we wanted to go to the bathroom they had a RED LIGHT over the supervisors desk by the door. When you went out you had to sign out, with the supervisor recording the out time, then you would flick the wall switch to turn the RED LIGHT on so others waiting their turn would know someone was out. ONLY ONE PERSON out of 200 could be out to the bathroom at one time. A record of how many times and how long you were gone in a week or month were reviewed with you if you were going too long or too much and of course it went in as part of your OFFICIAL REVIEW and FRIENDLY DISCUSSION.
The process of waiting your turn to go was problematic to say the least. Each Directory Operator had two plastic cards one blue one red, each just smaller than an index card. We would first have to look to see who (out of 200 people) already had their Red card clipped to the top of their cubical partition before us, AND REMEMBER who had theirs up first, as others were putting theirs up after yours.
The blue cards were if we wanted to ask a question. We could not go "offline" to the system by unplugging with out the supervisor making our position "busy".
When we came for start time and return from lunch we HAD to line up at the door and ALL come in at once. We would for starting our shift "hot swap" out from the person leaving the position.
The regimentation and discipline were worse than the Marine Corps ever was. :-0 | |
|
| | | said by UHF:I wouldn't mind having some of these. It's better than freezing my pecker off at a remote site when it's -10F outside. I really don't see the problem with handing them out. Now if they really said that the techs have to use them instead of using a restroom, that could be a problem. When your 10 miles or more from the nearest facility, using these bags seems like a great idea. No outside tech at least in this area is to go to any company garage office etc. for any reason even if next door to it. So have a job next door to a co gps triggers then explain yourself.
On breaks stay within 1 mile or gps will go off. Stay within time limit or gps goes off.
Try using these bags in a metro area. Eventually a customer or cop would get you for indecency no matter how hard you hide it. | |
|
 gatorkramKaBOOM BabyPremium
join:2002-07-22
Winterville, NC
kudos:2
·Suddenlink
| Hmmm... This is very interesting..
And just where should they be using these bags?
And, what do they do with them, after they find a place to use said bag?
People are really asking for these things?
I'd hate to be the guy who gets "caught" using one, and is then labeled a sex offender.
--
Give me bandwidth or give me death!
»/testhistory/661871/4f240 | |
|  slashmanDon't do it . ..Premium
join:2003-10-01
Batavia, IL | Hmmm Would this qualify as a piss poor solution? | |
| | | | Re: Hmmm said by slashman:Would this qualify as a piss poor solution? No, it's clearly a poor piss solution.
ZING | |
|
approval from:
ThrowDemsOut
| Another...where have you been? in a cave? article. Strange, These things have been used by lineman, outside crews for oh...close to 100 years. Why is this a story now?
The main use is after setting up on a site pumping manholes or pulling cable off reels. When your trucks are pretty much tied up. Thats when you either break out a bag or piss on someone's garage. And I don't like the idea of telling them they are required to use them. But i don't like the idea of how everything is so fucking offensive now that it rates a news story. Jesus christ...bunch of pussies out there. And I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have people off the job site for hours using the old "I had to pee" excuse. If you don't think these tactics are common.... your insane ( and wrong). The union jobs bring about all kind of wonderful personnel. | |
| | | | Re: Another...where have you been? in a cave? article. said by cuda :
Strange, These things have been used by lineman, outside crews for oh...close to 100 years. Why is this a story now?
The main use is after setting up on a site pumping manholes or pulling cable off reels. When your trucks are pretty much tied up. Thats when you either break out a bag or piss on someone's garage. And I don't like the idea of telling them they are required to use them. But i don't like the idea of how everything is so fucking offensive now that it rates a news story. Jesus christ...bunch of pussies out there. And I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have people off the job site for hours using the old "I had to pee" excuse. If you don't think these tactics are common.... your insane ( and wrong). The union jobs bring about all kind of wonderful personnel.
True but this I do not think was a construction crew. Just a field crew moving job to job. One tech to a job. Way more than one job a day so probably could have stopped at any qwiky mart, etc.
A manager drunk the cool aid too much. 
Techs must make their numbers. First level managers even more numbers based on the techs. Unfortunately telco is not an assembly line like an auto plant. Drives to jobs change. Each job may be different. But the quota is based on hard numbers for techs and managers. Not this job was a twenty hour job. Each job is one job period. Some of the newer managers drank the koolaid. As supplied by upper management.
So if your a qwest customer installing 100 lines or one line that is one job. Make the numbers. | |
|
| irsean
join:2001-05-10
Redlands, CA | This is a BS story. I've worked in Telcomm for years, now I am a Vzn tech. We've always had "brief reliefs" (and yes, they make and provide us with disposable "chamber pots" as well). It's simply if you can't find a bathroom. Usually you're in a remote area. Qwest is no difference. Man, this site salivates over bullshit story after bullshit story.
GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!!
--
Message of the Day
There is no message of the day | |
| | | | Re: This is a BS story. Using brief reliefs for emergencies is one thing but being told you can't use the restroom is another and being threatened for being off the job & fired. Ask any tech in AZ, how bad things are getting. | |
|
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 |  Attention Bladder Control
| |
| | disc
join:2005-12-31
Raleigh, NC | Karl, great headline Had me laughing | |
|  PolarBear03The bear formerly known as aaron8301Premium
join:2005-01-03 | Unnecessary I installed DirecTV for a few years. If you're in an urban or suburban area, you can find a convenience store. If you're in a rural area, you can find a tree to piss behind. It was never a problem for me, so why is it such a problem for Qwest's techs that they feel they need to implement such a solution? All people in all lines of work must find ways to use the bathroom when necessary, so it shouldn't be such a big deal for Qwest.
Here's a few other points:
Urinating in a small device/container can be messy. Does Qwest at least supply hand sanitizer, since there obviously isn't a sink in the truck to wash up? Because that's just what I want, a tech handling my telephone with urine on his hands.
Where are you supposed to use this? If you're in the truck, other people can probably see you. If you are in an area where nobody can see you, chances are you can just get out of the truck and pee on the ground anyway. And as was said above, can you imagine the uproar it would cause if someone DID happen to witness a tech using this?
Throwing away a container with urine in it is ILLEGAL, as it is a biohazard (not that you're likely to get caught by authorities, but usually if a waste company finds it in your garbage when they are removing it, they will tack a on a hefty fee to your bill - happened to Swift Trucking). So the time saved by peeing in the device is wasted finding a suitable and discrete location to empty it (although I like the suggestion above - leave it on the boss's desk).
--
There comes a point in your life when you get tired of fixing everything and wiping everyone's ass. But it’s not giving up. It’s realizing that you don’t need certain people and the bullshit and drama they bring to your life. | |
| |  sporkmedrop the crantini and move it, sisterPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ | Re: Unnecessary
Perhaps Qwest should implement this? | 
Ballmer's brother demonstrating the bag |
-Yes, it's for men and women
-Yes, there's another product for poop
-Yes, it's approved for disposal in normal trash (read the site to find out how)
-Yes, many people that work in the field already have them
-Yes, each one comes with a disinfecting wipe (which you probably don't have if you're pissing on trees and shrubs - nice way to represent your business, btw!)
-Yes, I'd like some for my car please
And for giggles, two snaps from their site...
--
with every mistake we must surely be learning | |
| | | | said by PolarBear03:I installed DirecTV for a few years. If you're in an urban or suburban area, you can find a convenience store. If you're in a rural area, you can find a tree to piss behind. It was never a problem for me, so why is it such a problem for Qwest's techs that they feel they need to implement such a solution? All people in all lines of work must find ways to use the bathroom when necessary, so it shouldn't be such a big deal for Qwest. Here's a few other points: Urinating in a small device/container can be messy. Does Qwest at least supply hand sanitizer, since there obviously isn't a sink in the truck to wash up? Because that's just what I want, a tech handling my telephone with urine on his hands. Where are you supposed to use this? If you're in the truck, other people can probably see you. If you are in an area where nobody can see you, chances are you can just get out of the truck and pee on the ground anyway. And as was said above, can you imagine the uproar it would cause if someone DID happen to witness a tech using this? Throwing away a container with urine in it is ILLEGAL, as it is a biohazard (not that you're likely to get caught by authorities, but usually if a waste company finds it in your garbage when they are removing it, they will tack a on a hefty fee to your bill - happened to Swift Trucking). So the time saved by peeing in the device is wasted finding a suitable and discrete location to empty it (although I like the suggestion above - leave it on the boss's desk). Qwest is pushing jobs per day period. Let go thru voluntary separation as many as want with small package then rest maybe a layoff or not but do the work.
This manager drank the koolaid. His uppers may have pushed also but if any bad only this manager.
First levels must meet all quotas period also.Plus this story should not exist. If Qwest sent a Christmas or Easter card to employees it would say all confidential up to and including termination. | |
| | | | said by PolarBear03:Throwing away a container with urine in it is ILLEGAL, as it is a biohazard (not that you're likely to get caught by authorities, but usually if a waste company finds it in your garbage when they are removing it, they will tack a on a hefty fee to your bill - happened to Swift Trucking). So the time saved by peeing in the device is wasted finding a suitable and discrete location to empty it (although I like the suggestion above - leave it on the boss's desk). I do not know about illegal as diapers for babies exist. But maybe ask the customer can I throw this in your trash. I was saving my company money so you could pay less. Thanks so very much. (sarcasm)
Or not at a customers house and no stops as in time wasted throw it out the truck window. | |
| | | | | Re: Unnecessary Throwing it out the window will usually get you a ticket in most states for litering. Too many people with cell phones to call in your license plate.
I agree with the poster above. If your in the city then stop at a gas station or store. If in the country, pull over and park the truck. Thorw out a cone or two and go your business. How many copps are going to stop if they see you on the side of the road with cones out and/or lights on? They fly right by in my neck of the woods.
I for one NEVER let any telco or cable technician in the house to do anything. I do it myself. Half of these guys don't know what they are doing in the first place. The other half are in such a rush that they cut corners that I wind up having to fix later anyway. | |
| | | |  IconTime KeeperPremium,VIP,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Little Rock, AR
kudos:3 | Re: Unnecessary said by Moon1234 :
I for one NEVER let any telco or cable technician in the house to do anything. I do it myself. Half of these guys don't know what they are doing in the first place. The other half are in such a rush that they cut corners that I wind up having to fix later anyway.
If half of the techs don't know how to fix your simple inside wiring issues, then that means that 99% of customers that think they can do it themselves, can't. Glad you're in the 1%. | |
|
 CurtesyFlushBababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
kudos:2 | Why the problem with customer facilities? I don't care if service personnel use my guest bathroom while
they're on my property. I had a plumber and his two man crew out last year to install a sewer clean out on the mainline, and the first thing the bossman did when he got to the house was take a huge dump in my guest bathroom. Didn't bother me.
My godson is a field tech for Sears appliances and a close friend was a Cox installer for awhile. Both were told to never use customer facilities when they have to go.
Why?
--
A proud member of DENSA. Come join the 98 per centers. | |
|  wilbilt Pronto ResurrectedPremium
join:2004-01-11
Oroville, CA | A Tent for #2? I can see where the urinal bags might be useful on occasion. But what of the portable commode and the privacy tent?
It seems it would be faster and more productive to just find a public restroom rather than spending the time to deploy the hardware in a customer's front yard.
"Mommy...what's that man doing...and what's that smell?"...
--
We were taking a vote when the ground came up and hit us. | |
| |
| |
|
|
Say what?
·
·
