Toilets in shops

[BettyBoozle]

Throughout lockdown I've been very wary about the closure of public toilets. Obviously in the beginning we couldn't go out anyway but as lockdown had been eased I've been disappointed by the delay in opening public toilets. As someone with ibs and young kids who need a wee everytime we go anywhere, I kind of rely on knowing there will be a loo close by. Luckily a lot of public conveniences are reopening now but aibu to think it's a bit rubbish of stores who previously offered customer toilets to continue to keep them closed? A couple of department stores I've visited still haven't opened their toilets and today me and dc nearly got caught short in a shop that has a toilet but is still not open despite queues and other social distancing measures being relaxed.

Isn't it a bit cheeky to expect people to come and spend money without providing them with basic facilities?

Our local John Lewis has managed to open theirs, which are the standard several cubicles with shared handwashing facilities. As have our local National Trust properties, so it clearly is possible within the guidance - I can't imagine either John Lewis or the NT want to be known as the centre of an outbreak.

'Do you really need to be out an about... there is still a pandemic, and the virus is frighteningly easy to catch.'

Well I guess I need to be out and about the same as anyone else does? But due to my disability I can't. Or if I do I risk stress and humiliation. I'm sure there's something called the equality act that prevents discriminating against people like this.

I do realise it's a risk it's just so frustrating and upsetting. And as pp said, some are managing it. So it clearly is doable.

@bathorshower

Our local John Lewis has managed to open theirs, which are the standard several cubicles with shared handwashing facilities. As have our local National Trust properties, so it clearly is possible within the guidance - I can't imagine either John Lewis or the NT want to be known as the centre of an outbreak.

Okay, so it’s safe for them. That doesn’t make it safe elsewhere.

It’s awful, I’m pregnant and it’s miserable.

I'm sure there's something called the equality act that prevents discriminating against people like this.

OP You’re not being discriminated against because shops don’t legally have to provide toilets.

Only restaurants and takeaways with more than ten seats are required to provide toilets.

OP I haven't left the house for 7 days due to lack of toilets.

Drove over 40 min today to a place today to find they are only doing appointments... Nothing on their websites tonsay as such.

Needless to say it was was a long uncomfortable journey back 😥

John Lewis stores and markses stores with a cafe have theirs open.

I agree OP. I have a panic disorder which is triggered by being out of control, historically linked to not having access to a loo. I had a full blown panic attack in Wilko today as the loos in the neighbouring shops were all shut not had an attack in over 6 months so was hoping I was getting better.

Toilets not even open in supermarkets round here either

@NellGwynsPenguin

The thing is that like the polio virus, covid19 virus can be found in poo.

They’d need to thoroughly clean every loo, taps, handles, etc, each time anyone came in to the toilets. In full PPE.

Do you really need to be out an about... there is still a pandemic, and the virus is frighteningly easy to catch.

Or people can wash their hands when they've been, like you're supposed to if you don't want to get sick, anyhow.

Or people can wash their hands when they've been, like you're supposed to if you don't want to get sick, anyhow

But people don't. Then the hand you their money 🤮

@SarahTancredi

They’d need to thoroughly clean every loo, taps, handles, etc, each time anyone came in to the toilets. In full PPE

Would this also require COSHH training too? So something staff may not have had

COSHH training takes 5 minutes to complete for toilet training chemicals and toilets do not need to be cleaned every time someone goes. And full PPE is gloves, mask and a plastic apron. It’s a job that’s currently undertaken by everyone from cleaners, to office staff to floor staff where I work.

People are responsible for themselves, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitiser.

People are responsible for themselves, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitiser

As I said they don't. And if you are behind a counter you can't get out to go wash your hands after having to touch stuff they are handling too. I have to rely on hand sanitiser at work theres not always time ir staff dir me to leave to go wash my hands. I'd be robbed in the 20 seconds I had to leave the shop floor

Are toilets the new "masks" ?

It's only a mild inconvenience, stop making silly excuses!

and

I fail to understand the objections. I live in a country where we're totally used to no public toilets, and we manage fine!

and

AIBU to be utterly shocked that somebody is objecting to toilet closures, honestly how can people be so selfish!

etc.

I don't have any conditions that I know of but I can't always wait til I get home, probably something to do with drinking lots of water and vaginally birthing a 10lb+ baby.
Even worse I unexpectedly came on my period really heavily with zero warning in a country park and there were no toilets open - nightmare!

YANBU. The nearest big city to me only has toilets open in one of the three shopping centres, and only the ones on the ground floor because they're next to the bus station/opposite the train station. If it wasn't for this I'm sure they'd be closed like in the other shopping centres. No idea about John Lewis/M&S and the like but I imagine they're closed too. The queues at the big shopping centre are long enough at the best of times. Until more loos are open I'll stick to online shopping.

M&S toilets are open thank god as I'm potty training toddlers

Yanbu I’m pregnant so need the loo a lot and my just 2 yo has recently potty trained. I get panicky if I can’t get to a loo. It’s all well and good people saying ‘do you really need to go out’ well yes, sometimes it’s unavoidable and aren’t we being encouraged to get out and spend our money if we can?!

@SarahTancredi

People are responsible for themselves, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitiser

As I said they don't. And if you are behind a counter you can't get out to go wash your hands after having to touch stuff they are handling too. I have to rely on hand sanitiser at work theres not always time ir staff dir me to leave to go wash my hands. I'd be robbed in the 20 seconds I had to leave the shop floor

Yes, but you can wear gloves when handling cash or what people are touching.

Also failing to see how it makes a difference as to weather they use a public toilet or their own if they neglect to wash their hands.

I work with customers as well, I get your pain. My nearest staff toilet isn’t on the same floor as my workstation but I still manage to find time to wash my hands every 30 mins, avoid touching my face throughout my shift and use gloves if I have to touch something a customer hands me.

Agreed, it's not on. That said, we tend to have it very good in this country with regards to toilets. If you go to somewhere like Amsterdam or other popular European cities there are hardly any toilets anywhere and its a nightmare

Gloves if not used correctly spread more germs than bare hands.

And when we single man we cant keep leaving the shop floor.

Easier to just not have toilets when we dont even legally have to provide one , others are available in the town centre. Customers over the years have already damaged the toilets enough to the extent we had to replace the floor in one set so now those toilets have been pulled out. We had to keep our other toilet locked for customer use only anyway due to abuse of facilties.

Besides we are hardly the go to toilet on town anyway. We only have one. No one leaves the shopping centre with the entire floor of toilets to come to us.

Public toilets are a hotbed for the virus, it, along with faeces particles, are sprayed forcefully into the air with each flush, then, assuming anyone washes hands, the driers will blast filthy toilet air at you. And you expect poverty wage labourers to contend with that?
Nah.
I have IBS caused by trauma, and anxiety. I’m happy at home, safe, away from the filthy masses. If I chose to go out for self indulgence I wouldn’t want anyone on £8 an hour risking their lives so I can shite.

The staff have to share the customer toilets

Staff have to work... customers are not forced to come in

Simple as that. Our footfall certainly isn’t suffering due to them being closed And our toilets are clean for us to use. Customers are dirty I’m afraid