Sitting down on the job.

[shorerider16]

I am a little curious as the policies of other companies about employes sitting down on the job. I don't mean not working, but sitting down on a stool or such when the job permits it. I find that 10-12 hour shifts of standing on a cement floor in steels toes is taking a real tole on my feet and legs. However, whenever I try to sit down for a bit my boss gives me a big long speel about how it is not productive. An input would be greatly appreciated.

[Winger Ed.]

There's a lot of work you can do better if you're sitting down.
You're more steady for doing intricate things if you have a arm rest, are sitting,
and ya don't have to stay balanced as you reach around stuff with your tools.

I do as much work while sitting as I can.
That includes welding, grinding, and even using a drill press for multiple small things.
As far as what other people think, I relate it to taking away someone's chair who has a desk job.
They work better (doing certain things)with a chair than without one too.


I'd think your boss running his mouth and ragging on you is what's not productive.
If your boss is that 'retentive',,,,,,, you might just need a new boss.

.

[JonnyTIG]

Just what Winger Ed said. A good weld can be produced by a comfortable welder... We work with our hands and arms, sometimes our legs, backs, and the more comfortable you are, the better you perform your job. Run that past your boss and he might be inlightened. Maybe not, but every employer I've worked for has taken my side on that topic.

[burnie]

This is just my opinion but as a small business owner (with my customers being in effect my bosses) I think it shows bad form to be sitting on the job. As a guy with very bad knees from too many years on concrete, I sometimes just need to sit down and keep doing whatever I'm doing. In a production line setting, sitting can be more productive but just like anyplace else when people are given an inch, they tend to take a mile so it's understandable that your boss isn't real keen on the idea of sitting on the job. If I remember correctly, you are mainly a tig welder so you might be able to set something up with your boss that works for both of you. Your boss won't want to hear it but half hour speechs about lost productivity aren't very productive either

[Darmik]

Have a Chair

Well I do agree with Winger Ed, JonnyTIG and burnie

You just work for one of those bosses go go go go right ya I know the type a real Moron doesn't know any better always has his head stuck in the bosses Azz so you can't tell where he begins or the boss ends. In every industry how you do your job depends I mean I probably put on about 2 miles a day just walking around in the shop doing my job I weld and fit stuff here there anywhere I do have my own welding bay but I sit, stand, kneel, lay down.
I mean whatever it takes to do the job I guess what welder hasn't welded anything in any position. But I guess with your question well I would have to say that I'm mainly on my feet for the most part I guess but when I have to do fine work I do grab a sit.

How long has your boss been welding and does he or she have any out side experience?

What Industry are you in?

Your boss how long has this person been in that position?
I'm wondering if it is a new boss if so then they are trying to make a good impression of them self’s by whipping you guy's to work faster harder and they sit back and say look at what a good job I did.

If you’re basically in one spot buy your self a rubber mat to stand on this will help ya.

How long have you been working there for ???

It just might be time for a change, change this is how we get experience elsewhere and become the best at what we do.

Are you looking for a change? Or do you want to become the best at what you do where you are?

(Big long speel about how it is not productive.)

What is not productive is you not being comfortable to do your job weather it be sitting, standing, kneeling, laying down; But keep in mind when I say this though people do take advantage of a relaxed work environment so it's up to the boss to say hey guy's come on we need to get this done; but tone of voice and body language has allot to do with how things come across to someone. It could mean how productive would we be if 4 of us quit?

[aametalmaster]

I worked in a few shops where there was no sitting down. One shop even forbid it for lunch and breaks, you had to stand in front of your bench. Oh yea and you had to wash your hands on your ten minutes also...Bob

[shorerider16]

Thanks for the input guys.

I sorta figured that our shop was one of the few with a standing only rule, since in many cases, as you guys mentioned, sitting is far more productive. My boss started at the company many years ago, but moved into management at least 3 or 4 years ago. Funny thing is he moved up because a bad back made it hard for him to do his job! I personally have been working there for over three years part time, as I am still in high school. (Started just after I turned fifteen, but no welding then.) On holidays and in the summer I will work full time and even overtime on occasion. It is a manufacturing job with a lot of repetitive work, much of it small table work. To make matters worse we change tables more than a few times a day, and the tables are all different heights, but that is another story!

Basically I'm not really sure what to do. Should go to him and try to explain the problem, even though I can't really see it helping. Or should I just keep sitting down and attempt to explain as needed. Because I am still young, I feel it is important to take care of my body so it is not destroyed when I am older. Unfortuanetly I am not in a position to go elswhere until I am out of high school and maybe have a ticket or two. Thanks again for all the input.

[Darmik]

Problem Bosses

Well good luck you know what is best for you I hope things work out for ya no matter what your decision is.

[burnie]

You definitly have the right idea about taking care of your body now. I used to push harder and injure myself all the time trying to impress bosses that really were just useless d#cks and now at 30, my body is screwed up to the point that knowing how many years I still need to be in the workforce is a scary thought. Guy's that were older and wiser did warn me but you always figure " hey, it'll heal " but suddenly a guy quits healing as quick as he used to. Now my helper really is my best asset on a lot of days.

[fun4now]

definitely fix the problem, you are Young and still have growing bones. sounds stupid but it could easily lead to future problems. thats what all the ergonomic work stations and improvements are for. new key pad's and wrist rests for comp user's. same thing here. if worst come to worst, go the school nurse about the problem let them document it then go threw the work release people at the school to get them to talk to the boss.
FIRST!!! try talking to him and then his boss if needed. give them a chance to fix it before you go hard azz on them. its reached the point now that all employers need to be concerned about safety and long term effects. trust me you don't want to be 35yeras old and broken to the point you will never look for work again, thats me and its sucks way bad. take care of your self. you can always get a new job, a new back is not yet an option.

[dabar39]

sitting down on the job, what's that

I sometimes wish I could do a job that required sitting, most of my stuff is being bent over when building trailers or if I'm doing work on packing house machinery it's usually in some weird cramped up position to work in. In the packing houses it's crawling in , on, or under the machinery to do what needs to be done, not much call for sit down projects. Dave

[Winger Ed.]

just like anyplace else when people are given an inch, they tend to take a mile so it's understandable that your boss isn't real keen on the idea of sitting on the job.

Yep. You gotta have good people to start with.

So many folks have this concept that if you're nice to them,
its really a weakness that they need to exploit.
When in reality, for all thier skills- they ain't worth the agravation of dealing with them.

In our company, the owner may not come out to the shop twice a week. And then its usually to tell us how wonderful we are, or to get away from his office for a few minutes.
But, its also a crew that's compitent, self motivating, has a good work ethic, etc.

The boss gives me pretty much a free hand to buy whatever I feel we need, likes any changes in the shop that make it better and easier & faster to get our products out the door. And he doesn't care if we take a extra 15 minutes for lunch, leave to go run a errand, or hang from the ceiling like a bat to do our work. Plus, if we want to stay late to finish something, come in early to get a jump on the day, or even do our own projects on the weekend-- he don't care, and we all have keys to the building.

But,,,,,,,,, most other workplaces can't run like that.
The lower echelons of people in them just won't permit it.

.

[fun4now]

Winger Ed.
too bad all work places cant be like your's. but as the old saying goes "its had to find good help", sad but thats just the way it is. too many people take a job based on the pay insted of how they feel about doing the work, that leads to unhappy unproductive workers that need to be watched ahd treated like lil kids. sad really.
i loved building houses, came in on the weekend on my own time to get a jump on stuff the others couldnt do so it all went smooth on monday. loved being outside, and running the show ment no one standing over me. but not every one is so lucky.

[Chuck U&R]

sitting vs. standing

I wonder what your boss would think if you missed a few days work because you had to visit the doctor for back and leg pain ?

[Anti-GMAW]

Winger Ed.
too bad all work places cant be like your's. but as the old saying goes "its hard to find good help", sad but thats just the way it is.

Sounds like his boss hit the jackpot.