As the futuristic world, we knew as sci-fi becomes a reality, employees become monitored under advanced work surveillance technology. Some of this technology includes tools that measure keystrokes to determine how hard they’re working. However, employers can’t track their employees in the bathroom, resulting in them staying in the bathroom too long, sometimes they even play on their phones, take selfies, or daydream. Enter slanted toilets.
To remedy this issue, Mahabir Gill made a toilet called StandardToilet, designed intentionally to be a displeasing and uncomfortable experience for the sitter, in hopes they take care of their business as quickly as they can. StandardToilet estimates that up to £4 billion is lost every year due to employees going to the bathroom.
13 Degrees Of Unease
For only £150-£500 ($196-$654), you can have your staff sitting at a 13-degree angle on the toilet, and most likely, they’ll be in and out of the bathroom in no time. StandardToilet developers believe that 13 degrees are the precise angle to make your employees feel incredibly uncomfortable on the toilet without causing any lasting pain.
StandardToilet creators claim that everyday employees are spending an average of 10 minutes on the toilet; they estimate that their toilets will result in a 25% reduction in time spent in the bathroom. Therefore, employees can do something more productive in those extra 2½ mins, which is an hour and fifteen minutes each month if they go to the bathroom once a day.
“StandardToilet’s main benefit is to the employers, not the employees. It saves the employer money,” said Gill.
Critics And Concerns
However, there are some critics and concerns on the product, not everybody agrees with its motives. A building-code consultant, Christopher Chwedyk, from the firm Burnham Nationwide, showed concerned that the slanted seat would cause problems with managing the flood-level and backflow.
Meghan Dufresne, an architect from the Institute for Human-Centered Design, thinks slanted toilets could be complicated for some individuals to use.
“I imagine that the slanted seat would pose a problem to people with disabilities, the aging population, and children. There will be people who have trouble moving or may need more time toileting who will be struggling,” Dufresne said.
Charles Duhigg, the author of an enlightening book called Smarter Faster Better, believes this bathroom break could be significant in productivity.
“The single most important element in being productive in a knowledge-worker landscape is having time to think more deeply,” he explained
Duhigg said that StandardToilet takes away some conditions that bring out this sort of deep thinking, such as being away from distractions and being in a comfortable physical environment. He claims that going to the bathroom is an ideal break from heavy concentration.
“I know that I’ve had a number of good ideas that have come to me while I was walking to or in a bathroom,” Duhigg added.
What do you think about slanted toilets? Do you think it’s a good idea, or do you think it’s unhealthy?
