The P Factor

Kyra notes to The Cube . . .

We've reached a new level here. I'm not quite sure which level, though.

Our cubicles have no walls. This has nothing to do with the story, it's just where we work on our computers, graphic artists one and all, in three shifts per day, six days per week.

As a matter of course, we are paid on an hourly basis - although we are judged on an output basis, since what we do, once the skill is established and verified, is highly repetitive.

Recently, the policy came down that "For all bathroom breaks, the user must log out and, upon return, log on." Since there are several other breaks taken during the shift - to ask about a particular problem, get clarification on a specific point, and the like - we wondered how this would be handled.

They reviewed our logs.

Judy, two places over from me, has a bladder problem. Water runs through her like a sieve. So she pees a lot. She also produces a lot (work, that is). A lot.

Nevertheless, honest little girl that she is, Judy has to log out/on at least twice an hour to take a pee break. Well, it's on record, so it's no secret.

Except that, apparently, we have a Pee Monitor.

I have to point out that we are 2nd shift - 4 PM to 1 AM - so the ranks are thinner than the daytime crew. We notice things like new people. Especially new people who sit at a Corner Cubicle (a real cubicle, with real temporary walls, but made of transparent plastic).

And, we notice, how for the past week every time Judy logs off for a pee break the Corner Cubicle is suddenly empty and it's occupant, oddly enough, has to take a pee break, too.

Oh, we thought it was a coincidence at first. Certainly Judy wasn't paying as much attention as I was (I get bored easily and my eyes wander). But, by mid-week, we were testing the Corner Cubicle and - yes - the woman sitting there was monitoring every time Judy went to take a pee.

This went on for a week, and then the Corner Cubicle was empty.

We have heard nothing more. Apparently Judy has been validated by the Pee Monitor.