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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:

sailorcherries · 02/05/2017 09:28

I grew up with my mum offering tradesmen a cuppa and a biscuit or two within the first half hour or so, followed by any other soft drinks. If they were there for the whole day/a few days she'd also offer them lunch (a simple sandwich or toastie) and then leave another cuppa and plate of biscuits out.
I've inherited this trait.

I'd also never stop anyone going to the loo, it's already been used by numerous adults, children and two cats. What's one more bum?

JaneEyre70 · 02/05/2017 09:29

I used to work as a carer and had frequent UTIs due to not drinking enough/holding on to use the loo. A lot of the time you couldn't actually use a clients toilet as it had raised seats etc and sometimes fairly questionable hygiene...... and I always felt very awkward asking. Supermarket loos were my salvation but sometimes those were vile too and I'd wait until I got home. I'd often drive 7-8 miles home to use the loo in between visits if I had a gap!!

SnowinApril123 · 02/05/2017 09:36

Oh don't get me started on this one! :)

DH is a tradesman and he has worked in houses where he's been there for weeks so they've got to know him and can see he's a decent bloke, well mannered so likely to be 'house trained' and yet he's been told he's not allowed to use their toilet or make a drink etc. Like many others he's had to stop and often drive to a nearby garage/supermarket to use a toilet! Drinks/food etc he's not bothered but a toilet? Really??

SnowinApril123 · 02/05/2017 09:41

By food I don't mean supply it obviously I mean literally be offered a biscuit.

I'm the same as you Sailor my parents always offered tea and biscuits to tradesman.

SlowLifeLove · 02/05/2017 09:41

Access to loo - fine.

We also always offer drinks to people working in our home, but I don't think it's necessary too. I work in an office and I take my own drinks in with me - we have access to tap water that's it.

sailorcherries · 02/05/2017 09:42

I wonder how many toilet refusers would be accepting if their employer removed/refused access to toilets and water, or their child's school did the same.

PolynesianGirl · 02/05/2017 09:52

Bewty there are plenty of people who don't have access to a loo whenever they want.
Train or bus drivers, people working on assembly lines for example.

Yes it is a pain but also YY about the fact they do find a way around it.

So in the same way that bus drivers will only have set stops to be able to go to the loo, I also expect delivery drivers from Tesco to have that included.
Of course, that doesn't mean that they might not have a one off issue where they are desperate. I would be curious to know what would a bus driver do in that case.... They aren't going to stop the bus....

bigbluebus · 02/05/2017 10:07

I've had workmen in for the last couple of weeks. The week before work started their boss texted me and said he was wondering about hiring a Portaloo. I replied "don't need to, happy for them to use downstairs loo". He replied "Are you sure?". So clearly they have issues with this on a regular basis. The workmen have been nothing but respectful and I have't had any unpleasant surprises in my loo! I left them a key so they could access it if I was out and lock up if they needed to go off site. I did not want to have a portaloo sitting on my drive for a couple of weeks - parking is tight enough with the extra vans etc! I also made them regular cups of tea and gave them biscuits (which I don't usually buy but got in specially). They had their own refreshments with them but tea made in a flask at 7.00am is never good at 3.00pm!

I also used to have carers coming in for my DD. I used to do a mini induction on their first visit and pointed out where the loo/kettle/cups/tea/coffee and milk where kept was part of that tour.

Treat people as you would wish to be treated!

SnowinApril123 · 02/05/2017 10:16

Bigblue you've just echoed my sentiments! Treat people as you would wish to be treated yourself! Whether you 'have to' offer access to a toilet is irrelevant. For crying out loud be nice to others! We live in such a hierarchical, materialistic, competitive world, random little acts of kindness can make a difference to someones day.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 02/05/2017 10:21

Totally happy to have people working in my house use the loo. When we did an extension we hired a portaloo though, because there were up to 10 people on site every day and we were, to be honest, trying to manage disruption as much as possible. Not having people using the loo meant we had a 'clean' side to the house iyswim.

Delivery drivers is another kettle of fish though. I work from home, on my own and I'm not comfortable with people I've no relationship with accessing my house.

Woobeedoo · 02/05/2017 10:29

I've recently become self-employed and will be working in people's homes for anything from 2 to 7 hours and my main fear was "what if I need the toilet and the person says no?" (which is a crazy fear really!). It'd never occur to me to refuse a tradesperson working in my home the use of the bathroom and I have to say I'm a bit shocked about the need for a bucket in the back of the van for such instances but one I shall now be adopting incase the need ever arises!

IrianOfW · 02/05/2017 10:37

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

Who would that be then? Robots?

sparechange · 02/05/2017 10:53

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

I just googled 'catheterised builders' but nothing came up. Can you point me in the direction of where I would find them please?

Dowser · 02/05/2017 11:01

Whenever anyone does work here they get a cuppa, biscuits and use of the loo.

Some of my work people are friends and they get sandwiches, home made pizza and they're paid on the dot!

I believe in looking after my team .

someonestolemynick · 02/05/2017 11:16

I'm a tutor and am in 3 or 4 client's home every dat. I have never been refused the use of a toilet if I needed one I try to go go when between clients (I have a pretty reliable map of McDonald's and pubs in London in my head) but I'm only human. I would give notice if I was refused the use of a toilet. I think it's incredibly disrespectful.

In terms of drinks I disagree. 9 out of 10 times I get offered a drink at the beginning of a class but I don't expect it. I am only in a location for a maximum of two hours but am perfectly capable of taking water with me.
Although I have found that clients who didn't offer a drink as a rule tend to be awkward in other ways as well (i'm talking last minute cancellations without paying, demanding I cancel other students to do an extra session with them etc.). It's a very interesting correlation.

Badbadbunny · 02/05/2017 11:27

Although I have found that clients who didn't offer a drink as a rule tend to be awkward in other ways as well (i'm talking last minute cancellations without paying, demanding I cancel other students to do an extra session with them etc.). It's a very interesting correlation.

As is the opposite. A recent worker who pissed all over my bathroom floor and left the towel in a crumpled heap in the sink, was one who turned up late, argued that a particular task wasn't included (even though it was shown on his quote), buggered off early without completing the job and then had the nerve to send a bill for a higher amount than his quote!

Some people are dickheads whether they're the customer or the worker! You can't pigeonhole people.

Rossigigi · 02/05/2017 11:49

I always allow work men use of my loo, offer tea and coffee etc I thought it was common practice. Every day is a school day on MN!

bigbluebus · 02/05/2017 12:15

I was telling DH and adult DS about the MN 'thing' regarding not wanting tradesmen to use your loo. They were nearly pissing themselves laughing that there are people who think like this!

SomethingBorrowed · 02/05/2017 12:31

I guess the difference is

these workers are not your employees, the only offer a service,
the facilities are not in an office, being cleaned by a hired cleaner, they are your personal ones, cleaned by yourself

Add to this the fact that some (not all) workers do leave the facilities in a disgusting state.

expatinscotland · 02/05/2017 12:32

I don't let randoms use it, but people you've hired to do a job, surely. Don't get making drinks and food, what's wrong with, 'Here's the kitchen, water, tea, coffee, milk, mugs, help yourself'? I'm not running a cafe.

TinfoilHattie · 02/05/2017 12:34

When we had a loft extension done we were asked whether the builders would be able to use the loo. The alternative was them hiring a portaloo and having it sit outside our house, and of course they would pass the cost of that onto us.

As the builders were in the house for weeks I wasn't constantly making them tea and coffee, but if we have someone in to fix the boiler or do a job which means they'll be there for a couple of hours, it's common courtesy to offer a cuppa. Often they'll refuse, but I'd always offer.

BarryTheKestrel · 02/05/2017 12:53

The last time I had builders in I allowed use of my toilet, why wouldn't I? They were also prepared and on day one brought their own kettle, mugs, tea, coffee and milk and set it up in the room they were working in so all they needed was water and no extra dishes or expense to me! I was quite impressed with the forethought but it must come from not being able to use a kettle in other places. I bought them some nice biscuits to go with their cups of tea. Common courtesy.

Magpiemagpie · 02/05/2017 13:03

When I had builders for two weeks
I told them they were welcome to make tea. / coffee and to use the toaster ( I bought extra tea & coffee and bread & butter ) and if they needed to put anything in the fridge to feel free
I also used to buy them a huge pasty each day ( three of them ) and said they could use the toilet
They did a fabulous job my huge deck in my garden is still standing 15 years later and they have done more work for both myself and parents and friends on reccomendations

It's just common courtesy in my mind to offer tradesman a little bit of comfort If they are working for you
Plus a decent honest tradesman is worth their weight in gold so no harm in treating them decently

expatinscotland · 02/05/2017 14:00

It's not enough to pay them then? What if you don't have the money to feed extra people for two weeks?

PolynesianGirl · 02/05/2017 14:07

I'm finding it interesting that we really have twomtyoe of posters. The Ines who did offer tea and biscuits and thought their trade men were fantastic. And those who did offer tea and biscuits/the loo and found that they left the loo in a terrible state.

I suspect that latter are then the same people who will say I never let any workman in the house using my toilet, they are disgusting.

Which also points out to another issue. All the trade people who are taking no care about the place they are working in (I assume they are the same who will expect their dw to do all the cleaning of the loo at home too??) are doing a huge disservice to the ones that are great.

So maybe the 'responsibility' isn't in the hands of the people who have work done in their house but in the hands of their colleagues??

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