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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think having to ask my manager if I can fo for a wee is just wrong?

68 replies

KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 10:58

I'm sorry I just don't agree with this.

I work in a call centre and if anyone needs a wee you have to wait until there are no calls in the queue and then ask your manager if you can please go and urinate before you make a puddle!

It doesn't matter what time of the month it is either. Or if you're pregnant apparently

I'm sorry, as you may guess I am currently pregnant and more than a little hormonal!!!!

OP posts:
BrahmsThirdRacket · 28/01/2010 11:25

YANBU. Just go. What are they really going to do? I know there are people waiting etc. but really. How silly. I wouldn't mind waiting a few minutes longer if someone genuinely needed the loo. That's what happens when you employ people, not robots. Ridiculous.

nickelbabe · 28/01/2010 11:27

you should ask to speak to your line manager privately and explain that you really can't hold on when you need a wee.

i'm pretty sure that you're covered when you're pregnant for allowances like that.

in the CC i used to work for, they could put your phone onto busy, so that you wouldn't receive calls when you went for a break.
they should do this for you so that you don't have to wait until the calls are clear.
i think ours was effective from the call after the one we were on.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 28/01/2010 11:28

I had a similar experience where we were all on the phones (in a small office before the call centre was set up abroad) of a big high street bank, taking calls for all 8 of the towns branches.

The team leader was sat at the front at his desk facing us and I put my phone to idle and started rifling thru my bag for tampons..

'what are you doing?!' he asked

'preparing to go to the toilet' i replied

'you cant, we are too busy'

'i think you will find i AM going, and i am going RIGHT NOW thanks very much - its not optional, i should have gone 20 minutes ago. i can wait another 20 if you like but you will have to arrange for my chair and the carpet to be cleaned!'

He didnt challenge me again.

Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:28

NotTelling I am pregnant at the moment, which ultimately is why I need to ask more frequently than normal.
My employer and all the t/l's know I am pregnant and 'try' to understand.

OP posts:
upahill · 28/01/2010 11:29

(Note to self: Don't work in a call centre if it can be avoided!) [JOKE!!)

Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:30

LadyOfTheFlowers

Can I borrow your courage?

OP posts:
DuelingFanjo · 28/01/2010 11:30

have they done a health and safetly risk assessment now you are pregnant?

BecauseImWorthIt · 28/01/2010 11:30

But you can't just say "how silly" if those are the rules! You may not like them, but those rules are there for a reason. I doubt very much that the managers/team leaders, whoever, sat around and said "let's think up as many unreasonable rules as possible, so we can treat our staff as badly as possible"!

If it is a problem for you, then you must talk to your manager.

Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:31

upaHill

Tell me about it!!

OP posts:
thedollshouse · 28/01/2010 11:33

I wouldn't be so sure BIWI. I had a call centre manager try to justify to me that it was acceptable to invoke the disciplinary procedures when someone was off sick following a hysterectomy to treat womb cancer.

I could write a book about the stuipdity of call centre managers and their book of rules.

Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:39

BecauseImWorthIt I can say 'how silly' if that is my opinion. I am entitled to it.

It is a problem that I am waiting to take up with my manager as she is currently away on leave and none of the other managers are interested.

I'm not totally slack, I do see the sense behind the rule, but I believe it is unreasonable to not allow any staff to go if there are calls in the queue. Sometimes there are calls there for hours and it's unfair.

OP posts:
Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:40

DollsHouse That is ridiculous!!!

OP posts:
LadyOfTheFlowers · 28/01/2010 11:42

I also found any mention of a 'quick call to the union for some advice' changed what we could do and couldn't do quite rapid.

My 'courage' cheek got me promoted as my line manager was impressed at my 'no pissing about (excuse pun)/say it like it is/ attitude'.

When I left school I worked in a call centre and we were allowed 5 minutes in total each day for going to the loo and were not allowed to go in the hour immediately before or after lunch or before going home.
We had to put our hand up and keep it there for the nod to say we could go yet.....

smokers got 2 10 minute breaks a day to go for a fag.

OP: I dont think you are being hormonal for a second - surely using the lav when you need to is a basic human right and being preg you should be granted more toilet breaks if you need them. You have a small person sitting on your bladder.
Probably been said, but has a pregnancy risk assesment whatsit been carried out? Holding wee is never a good idea, esp. when pregnant.

BecauseImWorthIt · 28/01/2010 11:42

Kay - I was referring to Brahms post!

Of course you can say you thik it's silly.

But you haven't answered my original question. When you ask to go, are you being refused? If you are, then that is definitely something you have to take up with your manager.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 28/01/2010 11:44

As you have said - calls can be waiting for hours on end, there is never a time when the lines go dead and no one is waiting.

Humans are humans, not robots.

Rindercella · 28/01/2010 11:49

By imaginewittynamehere Thu 28-Jan-10 11:25:31

"Also in my experience because of the nature of call centres many many of the staff just don't care, so if you allow breaks at their discretion they just all go at once"

Hmm, because call centre staff are generally paid peanuts, it's ok to treat them like monkeys?

Original poster
KayloHalo · 28/01/2010 11:50

BWIW Sorry I misunderstood In a belated answer to your question - yes, we are being refused on a regular basis.

LOTF Yes a desk assessment has been done but all they did was give me a monitor stand to raise the screen up, and a new chair that inflates at the back.

OP posts:
minxofmancunia · 28/01/2010 12:01

yanbu at all, I'm outraged on your behalf!

using the toilet isn't a "break" it's a physical necessity, you should be able to go as often as you need to, esp when pg, it's really bad for you to get a uti too, can go up into the kidneys v quick and cause complications! tell that to your manager!

I used to be nurse in cahrge on a secure unit where people DID "take the piss" as it were with toilet visits! But the culture of the unit was so vile and the senior management so apalling I didn't blame the staff for manipulating things...

Anyway, that's not your situation ya def nbu!

Fibilou · 28/01/2010 12:03

Kaylo, that is disgusting that you are being forbidden to go to the loo, and I would suspect would be a massive breach of the Humam Rights Act. Are you members of a union ?
Someone else has mentioned ACAS, I think this would be a good place to start

Fibilou · 28/01/2010 12:04

Oh and BIWI, just because "rules" are there it doesn't mean they are
a) fair
b) legally enforcable

upahill · 28/01/2010 12:06

Ladyof flowers Don't get me started on fag breaks!!!

During my social service years I noticed that while the non smokers worked the smokers would give a nod round the desks and about 6 or 7 would go out en masse for fag break that lasted a good 15 mins. This was about every 1 1/2 hours.

I thought of two things
1 the non breaks I was getting
2 the gossiping bonding and relationship building that went on that I wasn't party to.
So it became of if you cant't beat them join tthem. I wandered out. Didn't smoke but joined the gang!

Fibilou · 28/01/2010 12:06

www.hazards.org/toiletbreaks/toiletbreaks2

Looks like they can only make you seek permission if you going causes other workers to be at risk

Fibilou · 28/01/2010 12:07

OP, I would suggest documenting when you and colleagues are being refused breaks and reporting the company to the HSE.

Fibilou · 28/01/2010 12:10

and this is also interesting, relating to a call centre

www.personneltoday.com/articles/2005/09/20/31650/toilet-break-blunder-causes-a-stink-at-bskyb-call-c entre.html

AKMD · 28/01/2010 12:10

www.hazards.org/toiletbreaks/toiletbreaks2

Specifically says the following:

The DTI spokesperson added that an employer could "not normally" require that an employee only take a toilet break after receiving permission, but added "there are circumstances, perhaps on a production line or furnace environment, where taking a toilet break without permission may put the safety of co-workers as risk."

Taking an 'unauthorised' toilet break does not put the safety of your co-workers at risk, so they cannot make you ask permission first, pregnant or not.

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