A Car Plant with a Poop Problem

An alleged memo to employees at a Stellantis engine plant in Indiana was making news last week.  To quote:

Is it unfortunate for us all to have to deal with an employee(s) that continues to create situations that are both unsanitary and certainly disturbing. Wiping feces on the bathroom walls, the disability handle bars, door latches, sinks handles, and the piles being left on the floor does nothing other than subject our facility and SBM teams to potentially dangerous biohazards that are completely avoidable. NOTHING. So, it begs the question for us to ask “WHY?” What is it accomplishing to perform such careless and disgusting act?

Effective immediately, SBM has been directed not to cleanup after such events. With the exception being the front locker rooms, each bathroom found in this grotesque state, will be immediately locked and taken out of service until further notice. There will be folks that have some complaints and concerns about this process, but we will no longer ask our SBM staff to clean up these types of events until a detailed investigation is complete. If needed, alternate methods may be used to help pinpoint the culprit.

Whatever you think about the authenticity of the  memo and, if authentic, the  strategy laid out, various news reports have confirmed this statement from the company:

Stellantis is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for its employees. The Company is currently investigating disturbing incidents at its Kokomo Engine Plant that have left bathroom facilities in an unsanitary condition. While the investigation is ongoing, the plant will ensure that bathroom facilities are regularly cleaned and sanitized and remain accessible to employees. Those responsible for these intentional acts will be held accountable.

Also of note is this ‘appeal’ excerpted from a report on The Autopian website:

If the shit-smearer is actually reading this right now, please, buddy, you need to reconsider pretty much everything. I’m not sure what’s going on in your life to lead you to think smearing shit all over everything is an answer, but I’m pretty certain it’s not.

You may have valid concerns, but if there’s ever been a situation where smearing shit all over something has solved it – outside of a mushroom farm – I’m not aware of what that may be. Someone may have wronged the shit-smearer at some point, but I’m pretty sure all of the other workers just trying to build Jeep engines don’t deserve to have to deal with this human-shit.