I’m aware this sounds like a ridiculous problem and it might sound like I’m trolling but this is a genuine issue. I’ve been reluctant to post but I’m really fed up at the moment and just wanted some impartial opinions if I’m being unreasonable before I take it further. I’ve mentioned this to friends but they just make jokes about it and it might sound amusing but it’s really not.
I work long hours (12 hour shifts) and get breaks but have to stay on the premises, there are multiple staff with staggered breaks. It’s a healthcare setting and there needs to be a certain ratio of staff at all times and all staff need to be available in an emergency, our pay reflects that but it means we are restricted on where we can take our breaks. It’s a mixture of male and female staff.
We have a kitchen that’s open plan with a communal staff room with a dining table and sofas. The only toilets we currently have access to in the building are right next to the staff room and kitchen. It’s an old building but the toilets are a new addition where they just boxed off part of the kitchen and put a toilet, sink and shower in. Unfortunately there is no extractor fan or soundproofing, it’s just a sliding door so if someone is making or sat eating their meals then you are pretty much in the same room with a thin door being the only thing separating you.
As you can imagine it’s really unpleasant for the person using the toilet and everyone else on their break who have no choice but to hear and smell everything. When you work 12 hour shifts it’s impossible to go without using the toilet all day and as there are quite a few staff members the staff room and kitchen are in use most of the day.
Most of the staff agree it’s embarrassing and they hate it, it’s difficult to pretend you can’t hear anything and I don’t want to go into much detail but some people have a very low standard of hygiene! There are frequent arguments about cleaning and passive aggressive notes pinned everywhere to remind about keeping it clean. There is a cleaner who comes in to give it a thorough clean once a day but most people want it kept clean throughout the shift.
We also work with one woman with IBS and I feel so sorry for her as I know she can’t help it but when she’s been to the toilet it means it’s impossible to stay in the staff room. Staff have started to bring a packed lunch and sit outside the front door but we aren’t supposed to do that, it’s not nice when it’s raining or cold as there is no sheltered areas.
A few people started sitting in their cars on their breaks but the car park is too far away from the main building so we were told we could no longer do this.
There is another bathroom that’s a proper purpose built one, it’s on another floor and at present only management are allowed to use it. It’s next to offices and the door to that level gets locked every day unless senior management are present which is very rare.
Even when management are present unless you have a reason to visit the offices you are denied access.
We had a brief few days when the staff toilets were out of order and we could go upstairs and everyone agreed it was a much better environment.
I have started trying to wait till I get home to use the toilet which isn’t healthy at all, a few other staff members have said they do the same. I sometimes go all day without eating or if I’m on nights eat before and after work, we have to take the break for legal reasons.
I’m really fed up with the situation and wanted to send an official email or complaint or push harder to get access to the proper upstairs toilets, I would like to encourage other staff to do the same but I’m worried about making myself unpopular with management and wanted to get an impartial opinion if I’m overreacting and should just put up with it?
I have asked management multiple times about access for the upstairs toilets but just keep getting an emphatic no.
I wondered what others would do if they were in my place? I know some people don’t care and are more open about these things but that actually makes it worse. Some of the staff stroll in with a newspaper, magazine or holding their phones and make conversation through the door, it makes me wonder if I’m just being a total prude.
I’ve read enough threads about people bringing smelly food to work and plenty of people found it unacceptable to eat egg sandwiches or microwave fish because it leads to sitting in a horrible smelly environment, that’s nothing compared to a room of people trying to eat their lunch whilst another person sits pretty much in the same room trying to have a silent poo! There have been complaints about the use of air fresheners because of people with asthma, there are several bottles of poo pourri and VI Poo but it’s still embarrassing.
I’m guessing there are no laws about where you can position a work toilet as the company I work for are pretty strict about laws and following protocol. I’ve actually worked in another place with the toilet right next to the break room but it was a proper bathroom with decent soundproofing so no real issues.
What I’m basically asking is AIBU to make an official complaint about this?