to have told off colleague for using disabled toilet

[loopsylala]

I have a disability and often can't get into the toilet at work as its being used by people changing clothes etc.

I mentioned it to hr who put a sign up but that's been removed.

Just caught someone using it. I asked if he was disabled, he said no but that the other toilets are sometimes full. I said that didn't matter, as he shouldn't be using the disabled toilet.

I'm worried now I will get into trouble. I've complained about this so many times and don't want to be seen as a trouble maker or that it's "my" toilet.

I hate confrontation and want to get on with my colleagues.

Could I have handled it better?

I will indeed mrsjay.

Don't care though :)

Me being a hidden disability denier is a new one though. Very amusing

HDD. Will be a new acronym give it a few weeks[grin}

Yes I can be in the SN and the HDD brigades

You all claim to know about hidden disability yet you automatically assume that this man was abusing the system, even when many posters said they wouldnt declare their disability if confronted.

I agree with this.

That being said:

There are definitely cases where accessible toilets are used when an alternative, non-accessible toilet should have been used. The problem is that NOBODY KNOWS who needs to use it and when, so it's up to each individual person to "do the right thing".

There are certain circumstances where I have used an accessible toilet: when there's been an urgency issue (disabled people aren't the only people who have that); when it's been the only one with baby changing; when it's been the only one that doesn't involve stairs when I've been unable to do stairs.

Most of the time the circumstances are that I shouldn't, and don't, use the accessible toilet: when the queue for the ladies is really long during the theatre interval (so I queue up); when (usually male) colleagues need a shit (use the regular toilets!)

Ask them to put a RADAR lock on it.

Thanks for explaining about hidden disabilities vinotinto. I had no idea about them

I don't know why you see the need for the sarcastic comments, but I wasn't explaining hidden disabilities to you. You clearly do understand about them, although one of your posts might have suggested otherwise.

Yes if taken out of context. That's the written word for you

But shouting hidden disability is deflecting from the bigger picture disability hidden or not is being used to allow people to act like dicks

This op is about a work place I keep banging on about the op point not every person using the toilet will have a health issue and to not challenge that is side stepping the issue of entitlement of people thinking its OK to nip in or to get changed or fix their hair it isn't OK

But Mrsjayy they're not acting like dicks because people are aware of hidden disabilities. They're acting like dicks because they're dicks. That's not a particularly easy problem to solve. In this case management probably need to do a bit more to make sure people aren't using the space for preening and just getting changed.

They put a sign up somebody binned it clearly they are being a dick

redpriestandmozart no that does not mean they are guilty.
I often have that look as i have been abused after using these toilets even though i have every right to!

As I understand it, disabled toilets can be used by those without disability if the other toilets are in use with the caveat that there is priority given to those with a disability. I also thought that disabled toilets were included in the total number of toilets required by health and safety regulations, not as extras and that this is why others are entitled to use them if necessary.

Clearly, staff should not be using it as a changing room/to straighten their hair etc.

Agree with others, you shouldn't be asking colleagues about their health. He may or may not have a health issue he is embarrassed about, but it really isn't your place to ask. You should have spoken to HR again about your colleagues using the disabled toilet for "grooming" purposes.

If you are using it when you don't have a need how you can give priority though? Stop mid piss to let someone who actually needs that toilet use it?

This sounds a bit like our workplace, in fact I have a horrid feeling it might be.

The standard loos are right at the other end of the floor, so it is a bit of a trek. There is an accessible loo right beside us in the corridor. I deduce from the fact that the blokes seem to be there for a while and the noxious smell of it when I've gone to use it that it's being used as the poo loo, for want of a better term.

Thought nothing of it until last week a paper sign went up saying that there was a disabled colleague on this floor who needed access to this toilet and could non disabled colleagues use the regular ones. I thought fair enough and felt a bit guilty - there's nothing wrong with me except being a bit lazy - so I've stopped using it. However sign went down after a couple of days.

I think if someone needs to use a toilet urgently then that's what they need to do and if there are other loos on the floor that people can use well then they should be using those.

ive used the disabled toilet in library for my 4 year old, in fact the librarian said I could because the only other ladies toilet was in use. it was that or the floor.

if there were regular toilets empty and your colleague was using the disabled that's wrong. but if everything was full and no line up for the toilet why cant he use it???

As I understand it, disabled toilets can be used by those without disability if the other toilets are in use with the caveat that there is priority given to those with a disability. I also thought that disabled toilets were included in the total number of toilets required by health and safety regulations, not as extras and that this is why others are entitled to use them if necessary

This is true. DH is his work's union rep and he says that this is absolutely the case in the workplace. I had a conversation with the toilet attendant in M&S when I was given an earbashing by a customer for using the disabled toilet (I'm disabled, though not immediately noticeably so), and she said the same thing. Which is why I said upthread that I thought the OP was BU. I do think able bodied people who take the piss (no pun intended) by fannying on with their hair or whatever in disabled toilets when disabled people are queueing are BVU, of course, but that's between them and their conscience. Not everyone has one, sadly.

Using an accessible toilet because you need space to change after the gym (or whatever) is undeniably selfish. Hoards of people using the accessible toilet when they can easily use other toilets just because it's convenient is also ridiculous. That said, I do have to say that it's so distressing to be confronted by other people, asking if you have a right to use the toilet. It's clearly an organisation-wide issue, so risking upsetting and embarrassing an individual is not on. Lots of people keep saying it's deflecting from the issue but not for the person who probably gets confronted often.

mrssmith

Same company but different office now

Ah... Not stalking you by the way, was just having a clear up of my Watch list - it was a bit of a jaw dropper so I bookmarked it yonks ago (I'm a nebby cow )

Just shows that trouble follows me even when I move offices :(