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

re the toilet, that is allowed but the issue was not being allowed to carry stuff on my person and the humiliating emptying pockets of sanpro to show them. They didnt say right out that I can't carry it but it was awkward. I received a bollocking for carrying my car key

What a bunch of wankers.

Do you have a copy of your last appraisal? Can you contact the old manager and use that as a reference instead?

There is a Part Two to this , I don't know if any of you read my thread when I started about a team leader harrassing me.
I pushed the manager for more background to this decision today.. contradictory..on one hand saying overstaffed/cut backs and 'you've done nothing wrong' and the other 'decision based on feedback and chats with others and training issues' . She refused to elaborate. Probably as wants to keep those others anon. I would hazard a good guess at this team leader putting in a 'word' for me. Also I had NO training. Nothing. None of us temps did. It was too busy to be trained at Christmas. We were just thrown in the deep end, learning on the spot and probably driving perm staff mad with q's and asking for help..but we had no choice. We all learnt quickly and to my knowledge not one of us temps has made any major mistakes (though at the time we were told it was fine if we made mistakes!)
Re harrassing team leader... she displayed odd erratic behaviour when I started. If she wasn't hitting on me (I'm straight) she was being quite vile. She was always finding ways to touch/ prod/poke (this doesn't bother me cos I'm straight! some of my best friends are lesbian, I'd feel the same about a man doing this to me..), make personal remarks. This resulted in me crying on the shop floor one day.. so humiliating. Then she changed for a while and was sickly sweet which was probably worse than Ms Evil!

Internet, I've found him on Facebook, waiting for reply but I feel a bit bad to contact him, I'm sure this company is the last thing he wants to be reminded of!

Anyway I'm not saying it 'is' the team leader, but someone has been giving me bad feedback. As the manager doesn't actually know me so someone has been talking to her when she says about feedback and chats. I've only met her a few times. And it can't be the customers..we have a feedback survey and I've been named and praised in many

Does anyone know if it's true re the reference? can they really refuse me ANY reference if I do end up leaving now? Or do they have to give one even if a vague one?
I want to work notice but I'm so upset and I won't work it if they make it hell

Y'know what, stuff 'em! Don't go back OP, it sounds an appalling place to work, and that manager is a piece of something else. Blackmailing you with threats of not being given a goods reference if you don't work your notice is so very wrong......she's done you a big, big favour, though it may not seem like that right now.

If you only started there at Christmas, then it's perfectly ok to use your previous references when applying for new jobs. So, turn off your alarm for tomorrow - oh and your phone, JUST incase she calls to ask why you aren't in work.
Have a duvet day, then get cracking on that new, fantastic job that's just waiting for you.

get cracking on APPLYING FOR that new, fantastic job....etc

It's a massive knockback for me and I can't let it beat me.
It has pinpointed that I need help.
I left domestic violence five years ago with the clothes on my back. I'm still trying to get back on my feet (PTSD etc). This is the third job in a row (from during that time up till present) where I've been bullied. I hate to say, always women, and more than one. This also happened throughout my 20s when I was at low points. It didnt happen in my 30s when I was stronger and then started up again in my 40s with the onset of what was going on at home (DV)
I'm going to ring up about the Freedom Programme tomorrow and maybe see my doctor as well re mental health services.. a friend keeps talking about Healthy Minds. In my work I'm bubbly and outgoing but this doesn't stop me being bullied and it's obvious I'm an easy target

Honestly you are WELL out of that place.

They don’t deserve to exist treating their staff like that.

Do you still have your discount card?

If the policy is that you cannot have one unless you are perm, how would they explain that?

I can easily believe the water thing - it was the same at HOF Bluewater so we used to hide bottles everywhere.

I've worked for managers that won't let you keep tissues when you've got hay fever and retail companies that insist on heels for a 4 hour shift.

Retail utterly sucks.

Yes still have discount card, I think can be used after I've left.

Update.. last shift is tomorrow, not a moment too soon . Yesterday I was told (by manager) that a doctor's note means nothing, I would still be denied water (not that I managed to get a note anyway). No bottled water allowed on shifts (even though we sell it), no exceptions at all.
She said that when I'm working, I can access water from the staff kitchen (totally different part of building) if I get someone to cover for me. She says this knowing full well this is at best difficult and at worst impossible. We are very short staffed right now, no one can 'water cover' for me so I can dash upstairs to the kitchen, it is too far. (eg on Monday I was working the tills alone, had about 15 people in a queue, called on the tannoy five times for help, was ten minutes before anyone could come... a lot of the customers had given up by then... so if I'd really needed water during that time?! And this is the quietest time of year! ) I have a bad cold now and my throat is very dry and tickly... I begged her to make an exception and let me take a bottle yesterday... she flat out refused, stopped me on the stairs and watched over me while I took bottle back to staff area. Absolute bitch.
I had a coughing fit today, it was hell. I ran to the customer loos (without getting cover.. it was urgent - ) and stuck my mouth under the tap but it's not drinking water, I've been told not to drink it but I was desperate.
I don't even feel like going in for my last shift (DP has just had aussie flu, I thought I had just a cold but it's getting worse so I might have caught that). I can't do a shift without water as today proved.
After tomorrow I'll be emailing my complaint about her to HR. Do you think ACAS would be helpful to ring too?

Fuck them, OP.

I wouldn’t be arsed about the reference- even if you needed one you could refer any new employer to HR who would confirm your dates of employment anyway.

Have you spoken to hr about this at all? It might be worth giving them a call to see if you were ever recorded as being moved to perm.

OP I know the whole situation is absolutely dire, but please listen to PP who say walk away. There is no value to you and your health to take on a large organisation. As you've worked there under 2 years they can let you go for any reason they can magic up even if they'd previously said you did a great job.

Do you have a previous employer to vouch for your employment record? Then you can bypass this employer altogether. Don't spend anymore energy on them.

I'm never shopping there again now. Well done TKMaxx, you've played a blinder.

Sorry they've done this to you OP

I’m a midwife and we’re not allowed water either at the midwives desk or when looking after women in labour. 13 hour shifts with often no break on a hot labour ward, it’s hard when it’s busy to even run to the staff room for a sip of water. Apparantly it looks unprofessional!

THIs is a huge company. Email head office HR. Also the director of the company in the uk. Tell them about the water and also that despite signing a permanent contact, you’ve been dismissed by new manager and as a temp as he claimed there was no paperwork

Oh Lordy, I’m so sorry. I’ve been reading you’re thread with mounting horror. What utter bastards.

Bypass these uninformed idiots. Contact HR or the regional director.
Retail is having the worst time atm- which may be guiding these ridiculous decisions.
Go high

Ps. You have rights as a temp anyway. You may want to have a look at the ACAS website.
Or better still - give them a call

I actually walked out of a job with this company some years back OP-this is nothing new or unique to your branch sadly and it angers me they can still get away with things like this.
If customers knew how badly treated the merchandise was behind the scenes and knew how they treated their staff, I feel they would go out of business over here.

You have my sympathies OP.

I can write/email my gp. I am sure you can do that.
You say thirst and dry mouth is a side effect of your medication. The gp can look at your notes.
You may have to pay for a letter though.
Join a union today.

Oh. Sorry I missed a huge amount of the thread.

MrsJosh that's crazy! I'd be upset if I'd know that was the case for my midwife. As it was, my midwife drank a can of coke and ate a bag of crisps in my earlier section of labour. Midwives still need to eat and drink!

OK I don't shop at your place of work but I wouldn't if I did. I'm glad you are out of there! Good luck with getting a new job!

I've left. That's it. But I still want to report them.
Today was meant to be my last shift but I've just called in as I'm unwell and the snow is bad where I live ( v rural), (despite that, they still said, try and make it in! - they are shortstaffed. No thanks for the last few months or good luck...no goodbye...it wasn't the manager I spoke to but deputy)
Yes I had a lengthy chat with HR last week. They fully support her (manager) on this. It says in the handbook, no food or water on shop floor (despite the fact they sell it) I assumed they'd make exceptions for bottled water and medical condtions. They said it's up to the individual store manager and that's that. She still won't allow it with a doctor's note and also she knew I had a bad cold (now flu hence not going in) and she said no exceptions and the old manager was too soft to let me have water (such a luxury eh!!)
So that's it..I'm done with those nasty fuckers. They've put me off for life. I don't even want to go in my local store now (which is not the one I worked at) They are a truly despicable company. And, still selling fur..I found some when sorting stock last night so I'm about to contact trading standards
Kitty, why did you walk out, if you don't mind me asking? (or could you message me?)