Solid Gold Beer Controversy; EV Ban in Wyo.; Timken Plant Closes | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 102

Also on the podcast, fired worker on the hook for "time theft," NTSB issues heavy EV warning, Britishvolt gigaplant flatlines, Home Depot stops "rounding," and Amazon fined for warehouse hazards.

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the podcast.

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors from Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN). In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:

U.S. Official Warns of Risks Posed by Heavy Electric Vehicles - @2:35

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board recently expressed concern over heavy electric vehicles and the threat they pose if they collide with lighter vehicles.

Terminated Worker Ordered to Pay Back Employer for 'Time Theft' - @12:59

Reach CPA recently fired a worker and wanted money back for time stolen, a court agreed.

Bearings Giant to Close Longtime Plant - @24:48

Timken is a major manufacturer of engineered bearings and industrial motion products. The company recently told 225 employees that the company's factory in Gaffney, South Carolina was closing this year.

Wyoming Lawmakers Seek to Ban EVs by 2035 - @33:08

Senate Joint Resolution 4 is co-sponsored by several Republican state senators in Wyoming. The bill was written to ensure the stability of the state's "proud and valued" oil and gas production industry.

CEO Suffers Massive Hit Following 'Solid Gold' Beer Can Controversy - @42:43

James Watt is the CEO and co-founder of BrewDog, a brewery and pub chain in Scotland. In 2020, BrewDog hid 50 special beer cans in cases for customers to find. These cans were said to be made from solid gold and valued at approximately $18,000.

In Case You Missed It

Britishvolt's Gigaplant Flatlines - @54:12

This week, battery startup Britishvolt filed documents to appoint bankruptcy administrators.

Home Depot to Eliminate Controversial Pay 'Rounding' Practice - @58:25

Home Depot has long tabulated wages of hourly workers by rounding their time to the nearest 15-minute increment.

Amazon Warehouses Fined for Ergonomic Hazards - @1:02:27

OSHA has cited Amazon for failing to keep workers safe, and has issued hazard alert letters after inspections at warehouse facilities in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, Illinois; and New Windsor, New York.

In continuing the conversation, please participate in our polling question:

Do you think paying back “stolen” time should become a standard practice?


Do you have any examples of employees that you felt were stealing time?

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