[learc83]

>people sit on long benches shoulder to shoulder

How do you sit on a bench for 8 hours a day?

[brokenmachine]

I doubt OP meant literal benches but more long tables with individual chairs. That's how I read it anyway.

[amyjess]

Yeah, that's what I meant. Somehow the word "bench" just pops into my head when I think of those long tables. I'm not sure why.