Canon Employees Are Forbidden to Sit Down, Walk at Normal Pace

vizjerei · 06-02-2009, 12:00 PM

Suck to be Canon Employee I guess

"The president of Canon Electronics, Hisashi Sakamaki, is also the author of a book proposing some of the same measures he takes with his own company. His theory is that forcing employees to stand not only saves money but increases productivity and enhances employee relationships.

In the hallway, if an employee walks slower than 5 meters every 3.6 seconds, an alarm and flashing lights are set off, reminding the poor startled worker that he's an inefficient waste of air. Even better (or worse), there's a sign on the floor in said hallways that reads, "Let's rush: If we don't, the company and world will perish." The big boss, as a reward for thinking up all this stuff, gets to lounge in a nice, relaxing chair."

Gizmodo - Canon Employees Are Forbidden to Sit Down, Walk at Normal Pace - Canon

Last edited by vizjerei; 06-02-2009 at 12:17 PM.

Gooshin · 06-02-2009, 12:01 PM

i wouldnt last a week in such a setting.

and · 06-02-2009, 12:06 PM

saw this one before. Id go nuts and end up sitting down on the floor (and getting fired?)

Blue · 06-02-2009, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by vizjerei

. . .
In the hallway, if an employee walks slower than 5 meters every 3.6 seconds, an alarm and flashing lights are set off, reminding the poor startled worker that he's an inefficient waste of air. . . .

What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them?

Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like.

**Sailor** · 06-02-2009, 12:25 PM

Shirts are nice - remind me of those the Beach Boys wore on tour in the mid '60's.

Jer

pingflood · 06-02-2009, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by Blue

What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them?

Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like.

If you make a bad L lens you die.

jct us101 · 06-02-2009, 04:02 PM

This same thread got an interesting response at the Canon Unhelpful Forums. Many people just said "so what, I have to stand up when I work too, what makes them so special?"

I was amazed.

I really was.

SpecialK · 06-02-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by jct us101

This same thread got an interesting response at the Canon Unhelpful Forums. Many people just said "so what, I have to stand up when I work too, what makes them so special?"

I was amazed.

I really was.

I'd take away the personal music headphones, too.

Jodokast96 · 06-02-2009, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by Blue

What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them?

Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like.

I think they've hired Terry Tate.

YouTube - Terry Tate Late Lunch

causey · 06-02-2009, 10:38 PM

Is this a policy applicable worldwide or just restricted to Japan? I can't imagine it in Europe and the Americas.

lithos · 06-03-2009, 12:02 AM

Try it in Australia. I dare ya.

"Sir, you are walking too slow."

"F*ck off. I'm on smoko. Mention that again and I'm gettin' the f*ckin' shop steward."

Maxington · 06-03-2009, 01:49 AM

Comedy, if it's true.

Though I notice all those great productivity ideas rarely apply to the people who come up with them.

My favourite is "open plan offices", where the people who promote them as the best thing since sliced bread, sit in nice offices with doors and walls.

Needs to be a law, if you come up with the idea, it must apply to you equally. Would stop politicians causing wars too!

Arjay Bee · 06-03-2009, 06:20 AM

I feel sorry for the guy on the right having to work standing up and balancing a baseball on his head. That must have been the punishment for working too fast

.

J.Scott · 06-03-2009, 07:41 AM

It is hard to imagine a workplace with such silly, strict rules. However, when I was in Nicaragua we spoke with people that worked in a factory in the 'Free Trade Zone' that were not permitted to talk to anyone during their entire shift. They told us they had devised ways around this by passing crib notes and using hand-signs. But if they were caught they would be disciplined or dismissed by management. The company was owned and managed by a Korean company.

Maybe it's part of Eastern work culture to be bullied by management. Silly uniforms, can't sit down, must walk a certain way, can't talk .... time for a revolution!

Reportage · 06-03-2009, 07:50 AM

I dont mind as long at the end of the month there is a big paycheck...otherwise pitchforks and torches await the management.

06-02-2009, 12:00 PM	#1
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Canon Employees Are Forbidden to Sit Down, Walk at Normal Pace Suck to be Canon Employee I guess "The president of Canon Electronics, Hisashi Sakamaki, is also the author of a book proposing some of the same measures he takes with his own company. His theory is that forcing employees to stand not only saves money but increases productivity and enhances employee relationships. In the hallway, if an employee walks slower than 5 meters every 3.6 seconds, an alarm and flashing lights are set off, reminding the poor startled worker that he's an inefficient waste of air. Even better (or worse), there's a sign on the floor in said hallways that reads, "Let's rush: If we don't, the company and world will perish." The big boss, as a reward for thinking up all this stuff, gets to lounge in a nice, relaxing chair." Gizmodo - Canon Employees Are Forbidden to Sit Down, Walk at Normal Pace - Canon Last edited by vizjerei; 06-02-2009 at 12:17 PM.

06-03-2009, 07:50 AM	#15
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	I dont mind as long at the end of the month there is a big paycheck...otherwise pitchforks and torches await the management. Last edited by Reportage; 06-03-2009 at 07:58 AM.

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06-02-2009, 12:01 PM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	i wouldnt last a week in such a setting.

06-02-2009, 12:06 PM	#3
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476	saw this one before. Id go nuts and end up sitting down on the floor (and getting fired?)

06-02-2009, 12:19 PM	#4
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by vizjerei . . . In the hallway, if an employee walks slower than 5 meters every 3.6 seconds, an alarm and flashing lights are set off, reminding the poor startled worker that he's an inefficient waste of air. . . . What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them? Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like.

06-02-2009, 12:25 PM	#5
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Shirts are nice - remind me of those the Beach Boys wore on tour in the mid '60's. Jer

06-02-2009, 01:09 PM	#6
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by Blue What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them? Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like. If you make a bad L lens you die.

06-02-2009, 04:02 PM	#7
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	This same thread got an interesting response at the Canon Unhelpful Forums. Many people just said "so what, I have to stand up when I work too, what makes them so special?" I was amazed. I really was.

06-02-2009, 05:58 PM	#8
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Originally posted by jct us101 This same thread got an interesting response at the Canon Unhelpful Forums. Many people just said "so what, I have to stand up when I work too, what makes them so special?" I was amazed. I really was. I'd take away the personal music headphones, too.

06-02-2009, 06:13 PM	#9
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by Blue What happens after that . . . a dude with a Samurai sword jumps out and chases them? Edit: I wonder what their quality assurance program is like. I think they've hired Terry Tate. YouTube - Terry Tate Late Lunch

06-02-2009, 10:38 PM	#10
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	Is this a policy applicable worldwide or just restricted to Japan? I can't imagine it in Europe and the Americas.

06-03-2009, 12:02 AM	#11
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Try it in Australia. I dare ya. "Sir, you are walking too slow." "Fck off. I'm on smoko. Mention that again and I'm gettin' the fckin' shop steward."

06-03-2009, 01:49 AM	#12
Maxington Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 255	Comedy, if it's true. Though I notice all those great productivity ideas rarely apply to the people who come up with them. My favourite is "open plan offices", where the people who promote them as the best thing since sliced bread, sit in nice offices with doors and walls. Needs to be a law, if you come up with the idea, it must apply to you equally. Would stop politicians causing wars too!

06-03-2009, 06:20 AM	#13
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	I feel sorry for the guy on the right having to work standing up and balancing a baseball on his head. That must have been the punishment for working too fast .

06-03-2009, 07:41 AM	#14
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	It is hard to imagine a workplace with such silly, strict rules. However, when I was in Nicaragua we spoke with people that worked in a factory in the 'Free Trade Zone' that were not permitted to talk to anyone during their entire shift. They told us they had devised ways around this by passing crib notes and using hand-signs. But if they were caught they would be disciplined or dismissed by management. The company was owned and managed by a Korean company. Maybe it's part of Eastern work culture to be bullied by management. Silly uniforms, can't sit down, must walk a certain way, can't talk .... time for a revolution!