American workers are expressing outrage over a new trend among US employers: banning employees from sitting during work hours.
A new internal directive at retail chains across the United States, prohibiting employees from using restrooms except during scheduled breaks, has sparked widespread anger on social media.
In a message that was leaked and published online, staff were told to "collect all possible documentation" ahead of potential legal action, according to a report in Yisrael Hayom.
The anger on the ground quickly turned into viral documentation of a harsh daily reality. A worker at a customer service branch in Atlanta, Georgia, shared that when he arrived for his shift, he found all the chairs in the break room had disappeared, and the last remaining chair had been taped shut.
The manager explained that a new policy had taken effect, categorically banning sitting during work hours. Workers report swollen legs, and videos online show employees kneeling on the floor or leaning on trash cans to rest.
The current battle is part of an organizational culture deeply rooted in stores, warehouses and restaurants across the US, which links continuous standing to diligence.
This approach often leans on the historic saying of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc: "If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean." Many managers believe that removing seats increases productivity.
On the legal front, the fight for "the right to sit" has been ongoing for years. In the absence of a sweeping federal law in the US, states like California have passed regulations requiring the provision of suitable seating. Class-action lawsuits in that state led retail giant Walmart to pay $65 million to cashiers, alongside multi-million-dollar settlements from Bank of America and Safeway. Experts recommend that workers continue to document any unusual directives for the purpose of filing complaints with regulatory authorities.
Recently, the TSA, the federal body enforcing transportation security, informed its employees that they are now prohibited from sitting during their work.
Every agent will now be forced to stand, as the agency is removing all the chairs on which they typically sit while taking passengers' ID cards or passports. A TSA spokesperson told the New York Post that the policy change will improve security at checkpoints and enhance the passenger experience upon arrival at the airport.
The union representing customs inspectors expressed great anger over the outrageous decision. The group said no official notice had been given to any of its local branches.
In addition, the agency said in a statement that removing the chairs represents a complete disregard for workers who are on their feet all day.
"These chairs serve as basic ergonomic and safety support for officers who stand and walk on hard surfaces all day," the union wrote. "The TSA is treating this issue as if it's a privilege; it's not; it's basic safety and common decency for the workforce."
