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    Printing company demands manager increases morale while mandating 12-hour days, gets annoyed when he hosts paper plane competition: 'You did what?'

    Even the hardest worker has a limit on how much time they can spend working.

    The vast majority of people simply aren't built to withstand being switched on and productive 24/7. Rest is an important part of being able to work to the best of our abilities, no matter what our work happens to be. It should be something that is a non-negotiable.

    However, it is no secret that some employers like to see things such as breaktime and vacation days as optional. They want to get the most they can out of their employees, and they believe that the best way to do that is by making sure that their hours are as long as possible. While it is true that in some workplaces, some days are going to be longer than others, it is not usually a sustainable way to think long-term. 

    Nonetheless, this is exactly how some companies choose to operate, and it almost always has a negative effect on employees. Even with fairly paid overtime, the kind of commitment that comes with extra hours really takes its toll on people. It can be tough to motivate a team through such a time, even with the best management.

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    Author image for Ally Perry Ally Perry
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    • A hand holds a paper plane as if to throw it, with blue sky, trees, and high rise buildings in the background
      via Kenny Eliason

      A hand holds a paper plane as if to throw it, with blue sky, trees, and high-rise buildings in the background

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    • One supervisor decided that creativity was the way forward when upper management claimed that they didn't care what he did, so long as he increased morale among employees. The printing company had gone through a period of working 12-hour days and 7-day weeks, leaving many feeling overworked. 

      In response, the manager decided to bring some fun into proceedings, shutting down production for a paper plane competition and encouraging employees to mix Pepsi and Mentos in the parking lot. When the chief operating officer found out about these antics, they were not pleased, but these activities seemed to have the positive effect that they had been hoping for.

    • "I don't care what you have to do to improve morale, just do it."

      This was in a commercial printing company, after a couple of months of really ridiculous mandatory overtime (12h/7d weeks).
      via 2BallsInTheHole
    • So one day, when it was slow, I shut down production in the entire building. I gave them instructions to make the best paper airplane they could out of any piece of paper they can find in the shop.
      via 2BallsInTheHole
    • I stood at the end of the shop and judged whose plane flew the farthest and gave him the rest of the day off with pay.
      via 2BallsInTheHole
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    • A man sitting at a table holds a paper plane as if he is about to throw it, with two others also sitting at the table watching him
      via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

      A man sitting at a table holds a paper plane as if he is about to throw it, with two others also sitting at the table watching him

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

    • A couple of months later, after I had discovered the diet Pepsi and Mentos phenomenon, we did that in the parking lot for a half an hour (on the clock).
      via 2BallsInTheHole
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    • Sometime later, while I was talking to the COO who had given me the directive on increasing morale, I brought this up and he said, "You did what?
      via 2BallsInTheHole
    • Anymore incentives that cost the company money will have to go through me now." OK.
      via 2BallsInTheHole
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    • A printing press at work
      via Bank Phrom

      A printing press at work

    • Indotex Did it work though?
      via Indotex
    • 2BallsInTheHole Original Poster's Reply Yeah, It was like a mini impromptu Christmas party.
      via 2BallsInTheHole
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    • ZirePhiinix For the paper airplane competition, did any smart make a ball and threw it?
      via ZirePhiinix
    • 2BallsInTheHole Original Poster's Reply No, but I made my airplane out of a 23-in by 35-in full press sheet. Just the size of the wings made it go pretty far.
      via 2BallsInTheHole
    • VinylHighway The beatings will continue until morale improves
      via VinylHighway
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    • ARoundForEveryone "Improve morale with your team. But don't spend any money or have any fun or take any time off your very disciplined labor. Under no circumstances should this morale- building resemble 'fun' or 'enjoyment.' We're strictly talking about encouraging words, an appreciative email, and maybe a Target gift card. But absolutely no nonsense, especially outdoors where $10 in Coke and Mentos can be easily washed away and not cause a disaster!"
      via ARoundForEveryone
    • tsian I might have felt compelled to tell the COO where they could stuff the AO airplane...
      via tsian
    • grumblyoldman >"You did what? Anymore incentives that cost the company money will have to go through me now." The fact that he didn't notice that production had been shut down and the whole staff was out in the parking lot for half an hour tells me that nothing really needs to go through him as long as you're meeting deadlines.
      via grumblyoldman
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    • Mundane-Scarcity-219 Reminds me of the MASH episode where they were working practically nonstop and everyone was acting weird. The psychiatrist of the show was there at the time and said they needed something to blow off steam. They found it...a bonfire...although that was eventually sanctioned by Col. Potter.
      via Mundane-Scarcity-219

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    boss morale manager work factory employees workplace overtime company
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