I don't know how it works in other places, but in the building where I am employed, we are run so hot that there is absolutely zero room for error. If a trailer is 10 minutes late, that means we probably just missed production; if an unloader isn't ripping the trailer apart, we are missing production; if small sort isn't doing a ton of bags, we are missing production. I cannot state this emphatically enough: one single misstep (either through my own action/inaction or external forces), and I have just missed production.
In short: I can understand Mr. Nicholas' point. I am not encouraging him to wreck the sort, or endanger his employees, but I also understand that from the perspective of management, there is a balance to be struck. A slow steady pace is great at times, but more often than not, management will encourage the unloader(s) to burn the trailer they are in - and, from there, they will encourage the SPA guy to do his job, and as such with the sorter.
"Encourage" obviously means different things to different people - but, in the end, that is the name of the game. It's great that some soups work in a land where it rains (I'm quoting another BrownCafe member here) lucky charms and leprechauns, but at least in the world where I am employed, there is no margin of error, and that means working "briskly", to put it lightly.
Disclaimer: I expect a lot from my employees, but if I ever suspect they are truly endangering themselves or others, asses will sting. I've shut down the entire unload a few times, and spent an hour in the office because production sucked that day. So, do not interpret what I said above that I work my employees unsafely - I train them, work with them, because I can do all three jobs very efficiently and safely. As I am no better than the average bear, I expect others to be able to do the same - unload, spa, and sort.