How to Stop a Running Urinal

Have you ever flushed a toilet or urinal and noticed that the valve refused to shut? I have.

The last time it happened the bathroom below the one I was in flooded.

When the maintenance guy came to the rescue, all he did was pop the cap off the flow control screw (indicated by the red arrow in the picture below) and use a screwdriver to turn it clockwise.

The urinal languished for weeks with an “OUT OF ORDER” sign on it. But one day I really had to pee and the other bathroom was closed for cleaning, so I used the out-of-order urinal knowing exactly why it was out of order. After peeing, I turned the screw counter-clockwise to allow a brief flow of water like a five-second flush, and then I turned it back to its clockwise state to stop the water.

Sometimes the hero is the guy with a screwdriver who knows what to screw.

 

The Shift to Employee-Sponsored Benefits

Back in February I wrote about the good old days when employers would lay off non-essential or excess workers in order to remain viable.¹  Another trend I see is that employers are off-loading benefits onto their employees.

For example, fifty years ago workers could retire on the company’s pension after working there for 20 or 30 years.  Now, workers are expected to set aside some earnings for retirement in a 401(k)² or 403(b)³.  The employer might contribute a matching benefit in which they contribute 4% of what each employer contributes.

What’s next?  Health insurance.  Employees now can contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA)⁴ with pre-tax dollars.  Plus, earnings (if any) also are tax free.  Even withdrawals for qualified expenses is free of taxes.  And if you live to be 65 years old, you can withdraw funds for any reason without penalty.  Here’s the thing – the HSA is available only when choosing a (cheap) high deductible health plan (HDHP)⁵.  Hence, it seems a most appropriate replacement for a retirement savings for young, healthy professionals.

What’s left?  Perhaps we’ll see Tuition Saving Accounts.  Although by then perhaps most of the workforce will be replaced by robots and AI.

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1. https://ludditegeek.blogspot.com/2025/02/longing-for-layoffs.html
2. https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/401k-plans
3. https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/irc-403b-tax-sheltered-annuity-plans
4. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/are-hsa-contributions-tax-deductible
5. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/what-is-a-high-deductible-health-plan