A present from the boss to be used twice daily as a memento of how time flies. A
funny present? Well it's all according to what you mean by funny. It's no
laughing matter. In fact it has to do with a very serious problem. The grains of
sand in this hourglass have been carefully measured. Ten minutes the length of a
coffee break. The problem? Well it seems like some people just don't know how to
tell time and according to the boss it's costing the company thousands of dollars
every year. Now don't get me wrong I like coffee. In fact I'd be out on a break
right now if it wasn't because. Well I'm on a spot. It's up to me to figure out a
way for the people to realize that a coffee break means ten minutes or 15 at the
most. Seems like a small thing to get upset about but it's pretty big when it
comes to dollars and cents. You'd be surprised like I was in the boss's office.
The extent of the problem is pointed up by the fact that today more than seven
out of ten workers are taking their coffee breaks as compared with only half this
number ten years ago. Now listen to this. The hot cups of coffee enjoyed by about
twenty seven million American is costing industry more than a billion dollars
annually. Now think of that over a billion dollars. Yeah that's those national
figures for you. Thousands of industries millions of people. Well let's bring it
down to our own level. What would you guess a coffee break is costing us? You're
really serious about this aren't you? We're not a big operation Joe. 400 people
on the payroll. Even so I bet my bottom but the coffee break is costing us at
least thirty thousand dollars a year. What? That's right. Thirty thousand
dollars. All that has to happen and it does happen is for half of our people to
take an extra ten minutes. Now figure it up. A daily loss of one hundred and
thirty dollars multiplied by two hundred and go on and figure it out. Thirty
thousand dollars. Okay but what can we do about it.
A coffee break is almost an American institution. You can't just call them off.
You'd start a revolution. I'm not talking about the break itself. That's another
ten minutes. Another thirty thousand. I'm talking about the abuse of the break.
The thirty grand I don't think we should have to pay. Well now there's more to
this than meets the eye. You can say that again a lot more. For the past two
weeks I've studied the coffee break habits of our people. Now that ten minute
starts when they get their hands on the cup of coffee. What happens before and
after is a matter of small concern to them that is.
[...] of the box that time.
That you are so right shop early in the boy to [...] that got a match I think so
that's my mind of the bowling alley last night here we are.
[...]
And that's the way it starts somebody leaves early first thing you know they're
all gone. Well almost everybody at least the coffee break starts five
ten minutes ahead of time maybe they do avoid the rush maybe it's better if they
don't all go at once sure except for the fact that on the way.
A strike a boy I'm delivered up in a hurry. What's up we're going to get this
thing out be through in a minute. Take your time.
[...]
Yeah what's that something new.
This is my pride and joy well it's a. Time is a way of getting away from us Joe.
Those minutes that mean nothing to the employee cost this
organization a lot of dough.
Well well you're the boss we'll do whatever you say however I do think that
there's a danger of losing sight of the workers viewpoint OK I go along with that
that's one of the reasons why you're here as personnel manager I expect you to
represent the people speak up. Well I'll the average worker thinks of himself as
being chained to a desk with mountains of work around him that never gets done.
That clock on the wall with the magic hours of ten and three is a key to
momentary freedom and he needs that freedom. Oh Joe that's ridiculous you're over
playing it we all have to conform to rules and regulations you do I do everybody
does true but but that's too general let's let's nail it down monotony
is our problem monotony can cause a worker to forget logic and common sense that
coffee break stands for something take it away and it suddenly becomes very
important the laws can result in bigger and more costly problems I'm not asking
that it be taken away all I'm asking is that they take their ten minutes and let
it go at that OK but is that possible. Well that sounds like a leading question
but let's have it now if the worker has only ten minutes is it possible for him
to get to the place get his coffee and get back in that length of time. Well I
need to put it like this Joe but that's not my problem well it isn't and yet it
is if the situation results in lost time. Any suggestions what
about coffee dispensers located in certain areas no good I'm not going to try
that I really did it up brown stood the expense had an attendant come in twice
daily and at first everybody thought it was a great idea it was something for
nothing right away the boss was a great guy but it wasn't long until
this is coffee gets worse every
day she would have chintzy out to and it wasn't long before human nature began to
show through in other ways.
Speaking of problems the company sponsored coffee break has a few of its own but
getting back to this matter of ample time I'd be more lenient than my thinking if
the abuse did stem from having to wait for service usually it's an entirely
different situation. I thought you liked it where you were I did I did but you
know Jake have you guys heard no one of the former you know Jake the former. Me
and Jake get into it over a matter of policy can you imagine telling me telling
me how to run the shop.
I'll tell you listen there's two things when they take too long at the coffee
break they start yakking and slipping the knife into each other like a bunch of
old women but on the other hand now it can be a place where business is
transacted Oh sure it can be a period for goofing off but it also can be a good
thing a time when your people get to know each other that's good don't you work
better with people you know you're working around strangers you spend a lot of
time trying to size them up or you're a worthy opponent I'll say that but now
let's consider one of my pet peeves when.
Of course they all have to stop by the powder.
Their 10 minutes is gone with a cigarette and putting on a new face.
Harry's diner or the Waldorf it's all the same you never know who might be there.
And talk about the grapevine. Brother this is where
the original seeds are planted.
Another complaint is that all too often the few that fear each other get in their
own little circle and other people are left out. And where do they go on the way
back to the office you guessed it the powder room again and all the readiness
procedures and the countless little adjustments known only to a woman.
How for the first time in our whole discussion you're on tilt do I detect a bit
of personal prejudice to a degree perhaps but there's a lot of truth in what I've
said certain people take from 30 to 45 minutes for a coffee break well I can
remedy that now I draw their good workers otherwise you'd have had their names
long before this no there has to be another solution this is human nature now
you're the expert so I'm giving you the problem and I'm expecting a solution ouch
now you may have an educational problem on your hands but one way or another I
want our people to realize management side of this problem the dollars and cents
angle our people must be taught not to take advantage of a situation that just
grew like topsy there's a present for you Joan for me oh thanks go on open it
I know you've seen one of those before but this one's special turn it over
instead of an hour this one measures 10 minutes the theoretical
length of time of one of our coffee breaks I want you to use this twice daily at
10 and three for the length of time necessary for you to come up with a solution
to our problem a solution to the problem hey Joe
didn't see you down for coffee man I thought maybe you might be hurting I'm
hurting all right I think oh nothing never mind you'll hear about enough this is
a cup of coffee thank you for the coffee yeah anytime Joe anytime
well at least it keeps me close to the problem
but it still leaves me with one vital unanswered question
what can be done about it