A manufacturing company in China has introduced a strict policy limiting restroom use to just two minutes. The policy has been widely criticised.
The Three Brothers Machine Manufacturing Company, based in Foshan, Guangdong, now regulates its employees’ bathroom breaks with designated time slots and penalties for exceeding the limit. The company claims the policy is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, citing the ancient text, Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon as justification.
Under the new rules, workers can only use restrooms at specific times: before 8 a.m., from 10:30 to 10:40 a.m., between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m., from 3:30 to 3:40 p.m., and between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Employees working overtime are granted additional access after 9 p.m. Outside these slots, they must finish within two minutes or face penalties.
Management argues that controlled restroom usage promotes employee health and boosts efficiency.
To enforce the policy, the company has placed surveillance cameras and imposes a fine of 100 yuan (about Rs 1,200) for violations. Employees with medical conditions requiring more flexibility must seek prior approval from the HR. The policy, currently in its trial phase, is set for full implementation on 1 March.
This is not the first time a Chinese company has introduced extreme restroom policies. The Shenzhen-based firm, Lixun Diansheng, caused outrage when it printed and hung the images on restroom walls. The company accused some employees of misusing restroom breaks to smoke or play mobile games. The incident, which surfaced on 20
January, involved workers who reportedly ignored repeated knocks on the restroom door. As a result, the company staff used a ladder to take photographs from above.
Another company in Dongguan fined workers who used the facilities more than once during an eight-hour shift.
