In a right tizz re: suddenly not allowed water at work

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I've worked for a large retailer's for a few months.
I cleared with them from the beginning, that it would be ok to have a small bottle of water when working (it's either in a cupboard or a basket or tucked away ..depends where I am but near me whether I'm static or moving around) like a few of my colleagues do (or did)

For me it's a vital thing. The meds I'm on , I'm always thirsty. My shifts tend to be around 4.5 - 5 hours which is below the time allowed for a break. So I get anxious enough making one small bottle last a whole shift..I ration it out (not able to refill it) If I can't sip when needed I have a sandpit mouth and can hardly speak . Also it's very hot and dry in the store..a few customers have actually fainted. (but it could be cold and damp and I'd still be parched...)

Today a team leader told me our new manager has banned all water when working. I argued this and was told to get a doctor's note, I'll try and do this but what do I do in the meantime? Doctor might want to see me, appointments take 2-3 weeks to wait for. Doctor doesn't know me so might not just issue without seeing me first (I'm a new patient)
I've just printed off some legal stuff and Case 187 says they can refuse water bottles if they provide staff with drinking water. Well they do but I can only access that about every 5 hours so that's no good to me (I have to sign in and out to take a break... to reach staff kitchen is on a different floor, no drinking water in loos..but then I need water with me all the time anyway)
Im getting myself in a right state. I have anxiety anyway so that doesn't help with dry mouth
For me it's physically painful if I can't drink regularly. I keep it under control by only sipping every now and then, and never in front of a customer. But to have no access..I'm panicking!
Tonight I only did 5 hour shift and came out with thumping headache as one small bottle hadn't been enough. So if they take that from me...
Yes maybe it's my fault for choosing this job but I've always done retail, never an issue. I can't afford to leave if they deny me and I can't physically work if I can't sip when I really need to

I have this issue - I can drink at work but loo breaks are difficult. I have to wait up to an hour at times. I am supposed to drink a lot of water on my medication. My manager was a right pain about it. I've been trying, for literally years, to get another job. There is nothing locally that will pay enough that I can do.

Agree re hof. Been there, glad I left.

@lovelpixie

I work in a petrol station

Not uk I assume

Sorry your employers are such arseholes

@StarWarsFanatic
Shouldn’t have to

What country are you in op

OP can you give a wee bit more detail on them searching you before you go to the loo/ san pro stuff?

Harassment can involve someone (anyone) impacting on your dignity at work. You're protected against this in the Equality Act. Management insisting on searches before going to the loo and making the worker feel embarrassed needlessly, and not allowing them privacy to deal with their fucking periods is an absolute disgrace- I'd be absolutely amazed if HR were aware of that.

This gives me the rage
Agree it sounds like a manager on a power trip
I'm so tired of companies treating their staff so badly
Will other staff join you in complaining?

It's not Amazon, it's retail, not amazon type retail
International company

ok in my handbook there's details of a shopworker's union as I recall..so that;s my next step

in England

They sell all sorts of water/sports bottles, probably one of the best selections around actually!

I was going to say Debenhams. I was temp Christmas staff in a Topshop concession there once, vowed never to work in retail again after that one and only stint. Shops can get sweltering, banning water is barbaric!

not Debenhams
But a hot dry environment (my particular store..thermostat is bust I think...when I visit other stores they seem fine) As I said, customers have fainted, at Christmas two fainted within a few days, all complained too hot, people remove their coats as soon as they come in

Oh is it sports direct?

That wouldn't surprise me

Can you ring your GP? Ours would do a letter based on medication side effects etc. and wouldn't need to see us. You say you are new patient but do they have your medical records? Worth contracting OH too as it might just be the crazy manager. Hope you are looking for another job, sounds like a crazy environment.

I thought Sports Direct, sounds like their modus operandi but I have never seen public toilets there.

not S Direct, don't want to name outright as still have to work there but an international retailer ,started in USA, sells brands for less
Shouldwest, I'll ring them tomorrow morning... and yes looking for a new job but gutted really as I was a temp and agreed to stay on in this job....and hours etc suited

TK Maxx?

yes

I had this when I worked at Index. There was a small office bit on the shop floor when we could have kept water bottles out of sight but we weren't allowed. I worked a 4 hour shift without a break so it was hard going without a drink. This sounds utterly bizarre but I had decent-ish sized pockets in my trousers so I ended up keeping a camera film case with water in it in my pocket which I then drank in the toilet.

A while after this I had a cold but still went to work and put a drink in the office and said if they had an issue I would go home sick. They let me keep my drink there and after that other people put their drinks there full time. I left soon after. Needless to say I wasn't that upset when they folded.

I wish I had some good advice for you as I know how hard retail is, let alone when employers pull this sort of shit.

@overnightangel I agree it shouldn't be necessary, to be honest I would kick off a massive fuss in that position but the OP is looking for ideas. It seems odd that all the staff aren't objecting. I can go through a two litre bottle of water on a shift and I don't have any medical requirements but am really prone to dehydration. If they tried it with my department we would take it to area managers, head office, occupational health and the union but these things take time.

I'm wondering if this is a policy across all stores or just something that a jumped up little manager has decided to introduce with no thought. If it's not across all stores then you would be being less favourably than other staff which is not allowed.

Agree occ health and maybe in the meantime put everything in an email to your manager.

I was told 'it's health and safety' but my health dictates that I need to drink.

Health and Safety at Work Act says:

Drinking water
22.—(1) An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water shall be provided for all persons at work in the workplace.

(2) Every supply of drinking water required by paragraph (1) shall—

(a)be readily accessible at suitable places; and
(b)be conspicuously marked by an appropriate sign where necessary for reasons of health or safety.
(3) Where a supply of drinking water is required by paragraph (1), there shall also be provided a sufficient number of suitable cups or other drinking vessels unless the supply of drinking water is in a jet from which persons can drink easily.

In addition to that they have a duty under disability discrimination legislation to make a 'reasonable adjustment' for you.

I take amitriptyline, I carry a water bottle everywhere.

I dont shop at TK Maxx thank god. Hope you get this sorted OP. There seems to be no justification for not letting staff have access to water. Bare minimum letting staff bring their own bottle in. Should really have a water cooler just inside doors the public cant reach that you can get at any time. Bet they want to minimise loo visits.

This is ridiculous. As for health and safety, the shop near me is a jumble sale. Customers are much more likely to trip over wayward hangers than to slip on imaginary water spills. This sort of moronic H&S crap really drives me crazy.