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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it should be illegal not to provide access to a toilet and water for all workers?

54 replies

mustbetimeforacreamtea · 02/05/2017 08:34

Obviously if you go to an office/factory/shop etc your employer has to provide it but I'm thinking of anyone who has people working for them in their own home. Talking to friends who do community nursing and tradespeople working for me they frequently find people won't allow them to go to the loo or offer them a drink no matter how long they are there for. It staggers me that anyone wouldn't provide basic facilities. If it is an issue with cleaning there should be the right to deduct an amount from any bill to cover it.

OP posts:

lifesjoys · 02/05/2017 08:35

If I was refused to use someone's toilet, I'd simply leave.

It's just common courtesy to offer the basic of going to the toilet!

People are rude these days

HermioneJeanGranger · 02/05/2017 08:39

Often they're self-employed or employed by companies and contracted out, which is why people think they can bugger off to Tesco or wherever to use the toilet instead and waste time doing so instead of letting them use their own toilet like a normal person

BarbarianMum · 02/05/2017 08:45

Workmen should clarify and factor the cost of hiring a portaloo/time taken to go find a loo into the price for the job if the householder refused use of the toilet.

Moanyoldcow · 02/05/2017 08:51

I let the Tesco deliveryman use my loo the other day. I agree OP - it's awful when people are denied access to such basics. I'd never refuse anyone in my home access to those things, especially when they are doing me a favour or offering me help.

Spam88 · 02/05/2017 08:54

I really find it bizarre when people won't let people working in their house use the loo (although I've only ever come across this on Mumsnet). My toilet isn't exactly the most hygienic place in my house anyway, one more persons urine isn't going to make much of a difference...

DianaMitford · 02/05/2017 08:55

I wouldn't have a problem with someone who I knew - hired tradespeople for example - but I would say no to randoms (Delivery drivers, etc). Mainly because of safety issues but also those people should be factoring in toilet stops into their daily routine. It's the employer's responsibility to ensure comfortable working conditions, not the customer.

dilapidated · 02/05/2017 09:03

i felt really bad recently when we had trades in and due to burst pipes, we didnt have any loo or running water.

HermioneJeanGranger · 02/05/2017 09:03

Portaloo? Really? Why not let them use the toilet - they're not aliens

MN is a real parallel universe when it comes to this. DP is a plasterer and works in people's homes - luckily they let him use their toilets as the nearest public loos are often a 30 minute round-trip (rural location) and our local Tesco and petrol station don't have customer toilets!

AFAIK nobody has ever refused him use of their bathroom.

Verbena37 · 02/05/2017 09:04

I too let the Tesco delivery guy use my loo last week.....he did say they're not supposed to but I didn't mind.

Spam88 · 02/05/2017 09:07

Diana I agree, I wouldn't let someone into my home to use the loo (maybe would if my husband was home...). But my dads a delivery driver and unfortunately his employer makes no arrangements for them to have access to toilets. He's fortunate that the area he works in there are a lot of people who've said they can pop by to use the loo whenever they like.

RB68 · 02/05/2017 09:07

Bucket in the back of the van is the usual way of dealing with it - if you really Pee them off (ha ha) then it may get emptied on site though so be careful - I find it easier just to offer tea coffee or cold water and the downstairs loo

herethereandeverywhere · 02/05/2017 09:08

When we had workmen in they were allowed to use the toilet and good God they left it in an awful state! I'd never stop someone using the loo but piss all over the floor that my toddler crawled in?! And this was every day, not a one off mishap (I obviously kept DC away and took them to the upstairs loo after that though). Ditto making a tea and then the cup being left on the wall instead of just bringing it in with you.

I'd never stop offering because of this but respect is a 2 way street!

PolynesianGirl · 02/05/2017 09:11

It depends on how long they are working there TBH.
Delivery driver ... well yes it's nice of someone to offer the use of their loo but it should be be planned into their day by their company.
The tradesman that is spending half a day or a day in your hOuse should be able to use the loo of where he is working.
The building contractors that are coming to build and extension and will stay there for a month or two should have a portaloo.

The issue though isn't there. It's the very strong reluctance of anyone to let someone they don't know use their loo. What if they dare have a poo in it?? I can't quite get my head around it myself. A loo is a loo. But plenty of people seem to have issues around that.

Mrsglitterfairy · 02/05/2017 09:12

I find it so bizarre that people don't but as PPs have said I only really see it on here. DH is a locksmith so works in a lot of homes and it's basic courtesy to offer a drink and let them use the loo. Some people go the extra mile and make him bacon butties etc which makes his day. He did once work for a very famous footballer and his wife was going out for the day so she made DH and his work makes a load of sandwiches, jugs of juice and left them out with cakes, crisps etc..

PolynesianGirl · 02/05/2017 09:13

Acccess to water is that though. Access to a tap. Offering endless cup of tea etc... it's a very different issue and I'm not quite sure why you would even though I still tend to do it to try and do 'the right thing'

PolynesianGirl · 02/05/2017 09:16

Why is it common courtesy to do that?
Genuine question because they are coming into your house NOT as a guest or someone who is doing you a favour (and then yes tea and sandwich would be a very good idea) but as a contractor, someone who are paying to do a job.
In no company would your u see someone setting up a table with a bacon sandwich, crisps etc... just to be nice whilst you do your job. So why would you expect that as someone who is self employed?
Note I am self employed myself and do sometimes go into people's home. I don't expect any of that.

kaitlinktm · 02/05/2017 09:16

I don't think it is a new or particularly MN thing. My SIL refused to let some workmen who were doing a building job for her use the toilet - and this was well over 20 years ago!

I was aghast (I still am really) as it seems to be such a basic human right - especially if you have arranged for them to work in your house. She said it was because a previous workman had left such an awful smell in the bathroom she couldn't get rid of it for ages (or so she said).

StorminaBcup · 02/05/2017 09:18

We had some building work done and the company we used provided a portals but I never have an issue with people using our toilet. Why would you deny someone? Does this actually happen in RL?

I also make teas and provide snacks. To me the last people you want to piss off are people who are doing work on your house.

BewtySkoolDropowt · 02/05/2017 09:20

'planned into their day by the company'?

What like' and at 2.30pm you will pass the public toilets, so you have 5 minutes for a pee break'?

How can the company plan when their employees need the loo?

Original poster

mustbetimeforacreamtea · 02/05/2017 09:22

Last time I moved house the removal guys were amazed that I was letting them use the loo and making drinks for them. They said most people refused to do it and they were reduced to finding hedges etc. Do people think they will get great service when they treat other human beings like dirt?

If anyone has refused access to a medical professional what was your reason?

OP posts:

Mrsglitterfairy · 02/05/2017 09:23

In no company would your u see someone setting up a table with a bacon sandwich, crisps etc... just to be nice whilst you do your job
Actually they do this at my work some times, put on buffets or get pizzas in just to say thanks.
But on the flip side in no company, office etc would you have to go elsewhere to the toilet or to get a drink of water,

MidniteScribbler · 02/05/2017 09:26

I had some work done a while ago, and when they were quoting, he said 'do you need me to budget in a portaloo or are you able to provide access to facilities'. I thought that was fair enough. Either provide it, or pay for the portaloo.

MrsGsnow18 · 02/05/2017 09:26

Anytime I've had someone in doing work in my house i'be offered them tea/coffee. It just seems like the normal thing to do. I remember buying chocolate biscuits in specially when we had painters in!
I would also just assume they would use the toilet if they needed to, I wouldn't expect someone in working in my home all day to have to ask permission.

Badbadbunny · 02/05/2017 09:27

respect is a 2 way street

Absolutely! Nail on the head! "Some" people simply have no respect for others and that's where a lot of the problems arise.

We've had loads of workers over the years, and relatively few ask to use our facilities. We always offer a cuppa but many refuse having brought their own anyway. They rarely stay for a full day, either going home for lunch or to a local shop/takeaway. (Some don't make it till lunchtime and go off for a mid-morning bacon butty!).

Many who have used our facilities have left them in a bad way, so whilst we won't refuse, we don't actively encourage it either.

The only few times we have refused is when we've had outdoor workers who've asked to come in for the toilet, but then taken offence when we've asked them to remove their dirty boots as we don't want that trailed over our carpets and bathroom floor. Most are happy to do so, but on the odd occasion, you get someone who takes offence and strops off instead!

Some people just have no respect for others. We've had workers in the house who've smoked, leaving the place stinking. Others have brought in loud radios when we've been trying to work (home office). One guy even brought in his huge alsation dog. All without asking!!

These days, we make sure one or other of us is in all day when we have workers!

Badbadbunny · 02/05/2017 09:28

You forgot the third choice of giving the work to someone else who needs neither!

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