Pregnant and desperate for a wee Out of order staff?

[beksyt]

I am 28 weeks pregnant. I was doing some shopping in Iceland and was suddenly busting for a wee. I asked the lady on the checkout if there was a toilet I could use, pointed to the bump. She said no only a staff toilet and no she wasn't going to ask her supervisor and told me to go elsewhere. Flabbergasted

Probably Not insured to have customers out back.

You could try telling them it's either that or a messy accidentify not he shop floor..

With a big cheesy grin

Messy accident on the shop floor

Perhaps the law is different in Scotland, When I worked retail when I left school we were told pregnant women were never to be refused toilet facilities.

Not insured and most staff toilets are miles away from the shop floor - you'd be quicker walking to the nearest public toilet.

I did some work at M&S recently and the staff toilets were beyond a couple of alarmed and swipe carded doors, up stairs, along corridors, past coats and bags, and through the canteen.
I can see why they wouldn't let the public through to be honest.

Our local Waitrose happily let you use their staff toilets and a member of staff walks you up there and waits for you (my dd's had to use them a few times when very young).

I have sneaked someone into our loo but i know im not supposed to

In our shop it may well depend on staffing

But we aren't supposed to let anyone and to be fair the very nice public toilets are less than 5 minutes away...and we would be happy to keep your purchase til you came back (dress shop)

So no

Not out of order staff

My local Co-op lets 'desperate' customers (I think you have to be elderly, pregnant or disabled) use the staff loos.

I have worked in some retail places where I wouldn't feel safe taking a pregnant woman to. Through tiny back corridors full of palates of storage. However I totally understand your stress as I had more than a few of those incidents when pregnant last year!

No, she was not out of order. She’s trying to do her low paid job without getting into trouble from her supervisor.

Staff member was not out of order. Iceland keep staff levels low to keep prices low, that means a pretty busy member of staff would have to escort you through areas of the shop not risk assessed for pregnant members of the public (so against the insurance), wait while you finished then escort you back to the shop floor again.

Frankly for not brilliant wages and a massive amount of possible hassle/trouble I would just direct you to the nearest cafe/pub/public toilet where you could use the facilities.

I'd be more cross at the government cutting local council funding meaning public toilets are rare than at a retail worker TBH.

Likely to be in breach of their insurance to let customers into the "back office", plus it's a security risk.

Not out of order

But

The situation with public toilets vanishing from all over the place does impact on women more than men (as a group)

Which is definitely a feminist topic.

Did you find somewhere else to go? Some places are a nightmare to find a likely place when you get caught short.

I remember when I was heavily pregnant with ds2 and I had a lot of problem during my pregnancy.

Anyway we was walking through a shopping centre and I needed a wee and felt something running down my leg, felt like blood. I was already suffering from partial placenta abruption and alot of other problems.

So I quickly dashed into the coffee shop, that was right at the side of me, and asked to use their toilet.

They point blank refused me unless I bought something.

Not out of order. She may have been disciplined for letting you use the staff toilets or even let go if she's still in her probation period. There are plenty of apps you can download to your phone to let you know where public toilets are.

In the UK, pregnant women are legally allowed to wee wherever they like!

Being legally allowed to and actually wanting to are different.
Squatting down in the middle of the street would be hugely humiliating, even if legal.

Arent you allowed to wee in a police mans helmet

Or is that a myth

Police man’s hat?

Yep

For example, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even in a policeman's hat. It is apparently legal for a male to urinate in public, as long it is on the rear wheel of his motor vehicle and his right hand is on the vehicle

Surely anyone can wee anywhere without getting into trouble if they absolutely cannot help it?

Of course they can't let you in the staff areas. Staff lockers etc. Hazards.
Go before you leave home and every time you pass a toilet you can use.
Guessing this is your pfb.

Flabbergasted

Why?