Not allowing heavily pregnant woman to use a loo

Christ there’s some lovely folks out at the moment - so sorry this happened @pelvicfloorisnomore.

I run a charity shop and we aren’t supposed to let folks access our behind the scenes. The staff toilet, is right next to where we have our bags and coats - but I have escorted folks through to it and just loitered nearby to escort them back. I also always inform staff if I’m letting anyone into the area so they can grab a bag or coat and move them. But I have more freedom to decide that then some national organisations minimum wage staff do.

I just feel a little compassion could have helped in this situation.

Many many years ago I was in a similar situation in a Woolworths. And the staff there escorted me and loitered and took me back to the shop floor. Might be worth writing to the store and explaining how upset you are etc and that could staff be allowed to judge things on a case by case basis.

The other factor is - how many staff are around - as they can’t leave shop floor empty?

anyways - sorry it happened - not your fault.

It all depends on what staff are available though.

I manage a couple of shops, and let a pregnant lady use the toilet as know what the urge is like. This was out of kindness even though public loos were minutes away. Next thing I know shes going through stock at height and pulling bits down from shelves. She could of really injured herself and I was fuming, I would of then been blamed for the accident. Hence won't ever do again, and that's coming from a very sympathetic over active bladder sufferer!!

Absolutely yes and we need to extend that kindness to postal and delivery workers who have to work all day without proper facilities. It is inhuman and harks back to Dickensian times when basic workers rights were ignored.

Too many people abuse that kindness. They take drugs in the toilet, steal from the staff, fall over and sue the owner as thanks for their kindness. The only solution is to make more public toilets available.

So, often stores are doing what they can to be kind to their staff, ensuring they don't have to deal with all of the above!

It's a shop. Not a bar or restaurant. Just because you bought a loaf of bread doesn't give you the right to use the toilet.

As has been mentioned numerous times on this thread, allowing members of the public to use toilets will require someone to escort them there. In smaller shops, there might only be one staff member on duty, so that will require them either closing the shop or risking theft. Also, toilets used by the public need to be cleaned and this costs money, which could be significant for a smaller business.

If you live in a busy street, maybe you could put a note in the window inviting strangers in your categories to use your facilities?

Wow I am in shock at the lack of empathy shown by posters.. Im so sorry OP, that must have been horrible. Personally I dont think YABU. What happened to policemen allowing pregnant women to pee in their helmets (I am aware this is probably not true before anyone comes for me)! I thought it was a universal kindness to let pregnant women go to the loo if they needed it...

This is the reason they should be accompanied, it's probably why people cite "insurance" to decline the use of their facilities.

Of course if you are opening your shop to the public then you should try and make reasonable accommodations for your customers.

You are literally inviting them in to buy your stock!! Therefore you make efforts to ensure it’s a safe place, and a welcoming environment.

Why isn't basic sanitary provision considered to be part of that?

Disability access laws should be extended to include lavatories and access for dc under five, those with chronic conditions, the elderly and pregnant women imho.

And if they got fired and couldn't provide for their kids? They've nothing to be ashamed about. You could argue the business needs to change their policy, but don't blame the poor staff who are just trying to keep their livelihoods.

I really feel for you OP but this post hit home with me. We had a very similar situation at an old job of mine and my lovely colleague had her handbag stolen by someone 'desparate to use the toilet' 😔

It is not always managers discretion without any caveats, if they're choosing to go against policy that's their choice and their job- it doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that other members of staff should override it. In this situation the member of staff calling the manager and waiting for a response would no doubt still have been no use. It depends on the layout as well, I worked in several when I was younger and most the toilets were through stock rooms, up stairs and past staff lockers etc and we wouldn't have usually had any free to accompany.

No fuck them honestly.
Insurance, policy whatever, they should have let you use it it's just human decency.
I had similar with my 90yr old grandmother, it's inhumane and they should be ashamed and I will die on this hill!

I hope you want on their floor and they had to clean it up.

As someone who has zero bladder control I wanted to send sympathy, it's bloody horrible when you get caught short. I was recently in a job centre with my son and suddenly needed the loo and the man who was helping us made a unilateral decision to let me use the staff toilet. I think they could have shown you a little kindness, OP.

It is ALWAYS at the managers discretion and I chose to allow persons shopping in my low budget supermarket to use our facilities accompanied by staff.
Nothing to do with insurance

I've worked in a shop years ago and had to decline entry to the loo to a pregnant lady, I felt awful because no one should be left not able to access a loo in special circumstances. I'm sure co-op staff feel awful as well.
Another time about 17 years ago I worked in the pub as a cleaner and a elderly man and woman knocked on for the man to use toilets, I had to decline entry felt awful again, because I would not treat my elderly Grandad that way.
Pregnant woman, children, elderly and certain illness people should be allowed access to the loos when needed.
So glad I don't work in a job where I would be put in position of declining entry to the toilets to those desperately in need.

Yup

Because it's not a myth? Have you ever been a manager in retail?

As someone above said, the OP has no more right to use this toilet than she does your toilet. Just because the business is open to members of the public, it does not mean that they have to provide toilets to members of the public, and there are very good reasons why they should not do so.

?? I said that i thought the OP was right.

Very imminent then OP :) Awww.

As you said, you usually plan better and hardly your fault baby decides to drop when baby did.
As PPs have stated, though, it will be security and insurance reasons.

😘

Totally agree with this. It’s a very basic necessary provision.

Is not

I have every sympathy for people working in shops but if their job is made so difficult by the huge demand from people asking to use a loo then maybe the management of that shop should take the comfort of their customers in to account!