Employee Moral at Touchstone Wireless . . .

From a sample size of about 20 or so people of whom I have engaged in conversation at Bristol's Touchstone Wireless plant, at least a dozen or more harbor feelings of indignation, frustration and fear, brought about or relating to they way they are treated by their employer.
Touchstone Wireless' policies towards their staff are such that even conscientious hard-working employees are always mindful of inadvertently committing infractions, whether that be by returning one or two minutes late from break (for fear of dismissal in some cases) or not complying with the eternal work-in-progress that is the ever growing and changing rules and regulations.

Is it any wonder? I can count 15 people of whom I was acquainted and spoke with terminated in the last six months.


For non-scheduled or unauthorised absenteeism from work of one day (or up to seven with a Doctor's sick note) through illness, employees are given one point, counting towards a maximum tally. Half a point is expunged from their record for each fortnight of perfect attendance.
If the employee's points total reaches five twice in one 12 month period any subsequent lateness or absence will result in immediate dismissal.

Overtime is mandatory and will most often only be announced five or ten minutes before the end of the day's shift. If employees have pressing matters to attend to and leave at their scheduled time, they will incur a point.

Whistling, singing, humming or chatting however brief is forbidden. Employees are moved away from their work buddies to new areas at the supervisor's discretion.

I was ever so slightly encouraged but not surprised by the lack of endorsement for the points system by one of the middle managers responsible for actually implementing this most draconian and unimaginative regulation.

employee wrote:

From a sample size of about 20 or so people of whom I have engaged in conversation at Bristol's Touchstone Wireless plant, at least a dozen or more harbor feelings of indignation, frustration and fear, brought about or relating to they way they are treated by their employer.
Touchstone Wireless' policies towards their staff are such that even conscientious hard-working employees are always mindful of inadvertently committing infractions, whether that be by returning one or two minutes late from break (for fear of dismissal in some cases) or not complying with the eternal work-in-progress that is the ever growing and changing rules and regulations.
Is it any wonder? I can count 15 people of whom I was acquainted and spoke with terminated in the last six months.
For non-scheduled or unauthorised absenteeism from work of one day (or up to seven with a Doctor's sick note) through illness, employees are given one point, counting towards a maximum tally. Half a point is expunged from their record for each fortnight of perfect attendance.
If the employee's points total reaches five twice in one 12 month period any subsequent lateness or absence will result in immediate dismissal.
Overtime is mandatory and will most often only be announced five or ten minutes before the end of the day's shift. If employees have pressing matters to attend to and leave at their scheduled time, they will incur a point.
Whistling, singing, humming or chatting however brief is forbidden. Employees are moved away from their work buddies to new areas at the supervisor's discretion.
I was ever so slightly encouraged but not surprised by the lack of endorsement for the points system by one of the middle managers responsible for actually implementing this most draconian and unimaginative regulation.

Whomever wrote the above has "nailed it on the head!"

It's totally true. that place needs a good labor union in a bad way. I hate it.

Check it out in Pennsylvania, it's just as bad. I'm sick of it

The policies of Touchstone Wireless are geared to not permit the employees any time off whether it is sick time or just the need to pay their mortgage. They are made to work until a time each day that most businesses are closed. Things such as paying your bills becomes a gigantic obstacle. What are they thinking. You need employees that can concentrate on their jobs not what they are not able to do because of it. Happy employees are more productive and more likely to be at work and go the extra mile. The benefits are laughable because the employee is basically paying full cost with almost no company contribution. They have to earn their vacation time and x amount of hrs per every 40 hr work week worked and this is used automatically to cover absences if the employee is out sick or has a doctors apt. etc. Their concern is how to get a buck and who cares about the workers who actually do the work that get them that money. Without the workers they would not make that money because they can't do the amount of work by themselves that 500 do each day. The upper management is over-arrogant and look down on the working person. Their ego is way out of proportion and they go on the assumption that if you look big you are big. They have no clue what making it big is about or how to treat others with respect. They do not communicate anything to the employees like its a big secret or letting them know anything is giving up some of their imagined power. The top level of management is so over-egoed that its like they think they are god and do have to follow the laws that govern the operations of businesses in this country. They blatantly violate a persons basic rights. Here is an example:

An employee was questioned by the security personnel as to why they had such a large bottle of mouthwash sitting in the front seat of their vehicle because it was a company concern.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!

TOUCHSTONE WIRELESS tries to come off as a great company but it is nothing but a cheapskate tyrant that has to bully its employees to feel secure.

I was parked adjacent to their parking-lot and I couldn't help but notice the tired look on people's faces as they walked into Touchstone's building.
They were advertising job vacancies on some signs near the entrance to the parking lot. I spoke to a Touchstone employee nearby and enquired about the job vacancies. He told me of the rules and regulations and the unprofessional work practices that they engage in. He said they had to wear anti-static smocks to protect any electronic equipment that they might handle yet the rule was only fully enforced when they had management from one of their customers visiting the plant. He said that some days they were told that they didn't have to wear their anti-static smocks yet the risk of ESD damaging components was still the same. He went on to tell me about a supervisor who was moaning about Alltel visiting two days in a row calling them dickheads, and all because he had to wear his anti-static smock.

All that is mentioned is the same exact thing that happens at the Hatfield, PA concentration camp.

Touchstone wins... fatality.

It is called a job....that means you have to come to work and work, jackass. Don't like it...go try someplace else and quit bitching.....ruining it for everyone else. Take your faggity whining ass and go someplace else.

"ruining it for everyone else"

WTF are you talking about, r'tard?"

fyi whatthehell, the company they are talking about has one of the worst reputations in this area. Have you ever worked there or knew anyone that worked there? If not then you have no room to tell anyone to quit bitching about it. Most of the jobs in this area are crap and the REALLY lucky people are the ones who actually GET medical insurance through their company (but even that is usually the cheapest deal they get through the company). Many now are simply leaving it up to the employee to go get private insurance and the employer MIGHT pay a small portion of it. Oh, I probably should mention here that, from what I have seen and experienced, the normal pay in this area for anything besides Administative or Executive positions varies $7-$9 per hour. So, please tell me exactly what they are ruining for everyone else?

Everyone in this area probably also knows the company in Boones Creek that also has one of the worst reputations regarding their employees. I went there over 1 year ago (against advice from people I knew) and they waited until I filled out the application (even though I told the stupid receptionist that I was a college student) and then told me they couldn't work with me around school (I went to school at the time only one night per week) and that I had to be available 6am - midnight (or something like that). I walked out. I also know someone who worked in management there and apparently they treat everyone like crap.

I also should probably add that I was applying because the job market here is absolutely HORRID and I live on my own and pay my own bills, I do not have mommy and daddy paying for me.

I do work there...."wanderer". ...that screenname is probably indicative of your job behavior...."wandering " from job to job...place to place...because you can't satisfy the criteria or have every other excuse in the world of why you can't come to work.

Your view of medical insurance is severely thwarted...in short, you have no idea what you are talking about. Medical insurance is high no matter where you go, whether it be for the employee or the employer....it's high either way. The deciding factor in how much you pay is directly related in how much of the cost the Company shares with you.

I can't argue that they treat their employees like crap, though, in all positions and aspects of the matter.

Mr. McGill....be quiet....

Actually whatthehell I have extensive experience but have been told I am "overqualified" (more like the stuipd hicks are afraid of someone else taking their job). I have a very good work record (again another one of your assumptions that is completely wrong). Yes I do know what I am talking about with the insurance (you need to check around more) and just to inform you there is also a new procedure out with the insurance (for the companies that will still be offering it - again you need to check around more) that will be leaving a huge gap for the employees to pay FULL cost of any bill for visits or procedures. Did I say the cost of medical insurance was low anywhere? Stop reading something into my words that is not there and if you want to argue about it then actually state something regarding what I actually said. MANY of the companies around here are NO LONGER offering insurance.
As far as my nickname, you have no idea about my past, where I have lived, why I have lived there nor anything about my employment history so how about you get over yourself and stop acting like one of the scared little sheep or does it bother you that someone else might know somethat you don't? Stick to your pathetic little job and stop trying to act like a bully to those of us who wish to have a little better in our lives and who DO know what we are talking about.
Your assumptions are so typical of the ignorance.

oh and you never did tell me exactly what it is that is being ruined for everyone else? The great quality of life working for Touchtone? The exceptional way they get treated? What exactly is it?

We don't need people like you here working with us anyway.

Hey whatthehell

"It is called a job....that means you have to come to work and work, jackass. Don't like it...go try someplace else and quit bitching.....ruining it for everyone else. Take your faggity whining ass and go someplace else."

No one said they had a problem doing their job and being at work. What was said was that the company is unreasonable in the way it treats its employees. How can a company expect loyal employees when the employees themselves do not even have enough time to pay their bills. Not all bills can be paid by mail or electronically. FYI I bet my attendance is far better than yours and my production exceeds yours. As for the name calling and rude behavior, that is unwarranted on your part and is nothing but a childish behavior from someone that apparently cannot carry on intelligent conversation for the sake of having an discussion.

No one on here is ruining anything for anyone. The individuals on here are just discussing how they feel with others. If you don,t want to be a part of it then don't come to the site and read or post. Its that simple. As for the medical expense, I could get the same plan on my own for the same cost. It is more convenient to have it taken straight out of my check since I don't have time to pay my bills.

I also noticed that you didn't comment on the security issue posted above. When they decide to look in your car through the window and question you like a criminal about some innocent personal property that is none of their business just remember your words of its a job.

As for telling people to be quiet, your the only one on here that has a different opinion and is being rude and vulgar so take your own advice.

Well, you poor thing. Do like anyone else does and "make" time to pay your bills.

Get a real problem.

Well I see whatthehell still can not carry on a conversation. I also noticed they still refuse or do not have the ability to comment on the actual issues others are discussing. As for making time, I do not know about the rest of you but my day still has only 24 hrs.

To whatthehell, all you are trying to do is insult and be rude to the people on this forum. Why is that? Is that the only way you know how to communicate? Is your vocabulary and education that limited?