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Original poster

Mixed changing room

94 replies

cakedup · 26/02/2019 19:26

My friend works in chain coffee shop. There is only one changing room.

One time she arrived and the men were already changing in the room so she waited until they finished and ended up being 3 minutes late for her shift. The manager told her if she was late again she'd get the sack. She told her she could have got changed in the toilets but these were very busy with customers. So the manager told her she is an adult, don't make a fuss and just get changed with the men!

This would be especially uncomfortable for her given the fact two of the men there are pestering her and she is not interested. Well one of them is no longer pestering her but giving her the cold shoulder because she rejected his advances.

This can't be right can it? I suppose they can ask her to arrive in plenty of time to allow for the changing room to be free but she is going straight from another job to this one so it's not always possible.

OP posts:
TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 20:39

Not the company. The manager. If she goes to speak with the area manager, it will almost definitely be a different comment.

Unless the company doesn't require you to change at work. If the policy is that they must change at work then she should be allowed time, but if company policy is that she can wear work clothes outside then they've no lawful reason to provide her with changing facilities.

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 20:42

I would gather from the OP that everyone was changing for work then its not a choice more of a rule?
Even so it still seems like the males get the facilities and the females get punished because they had to wait does it not?

anniehm · 26/02/2019 20:50

Just wear a vest top that goes under the uniform, and cycling shorts-leggings too if she's that modest. The manager is right to an extent, either change with the men or make other arrangements. We all change together but I just wear foundation garments as suggested above!

TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 20:50

From working in coffee shops, I'm taking it that it's just a staff room and people are choosing to change in it, but that's from personal experience. Since we don't know the actual policy, we can't answer.

If the policy is that they change at work, then they need to allow her time so one room is still enough. But they need to give her time.
It policy isn't that, then they don't need to do a thing.

The woman are waiting In this one instance. But tomorrow, it could be the men waiting whilst the women change. It's called making do with the small space available at work. You take turns. Whoever get there first goes first. That isn't sexist. It isn't an attack on women. It is discriminating against women.

It's a case of waiting for the room to be available, doesn't change for men or women.

RockyFlintstone · 26/02/2019 21:12

Just wear a vest top that goes under the uniform, and cycling shorts-leggings too if she's that modest. The manager is right to an extent, either change with the men or make other arrangements.

Women should not be changing with men, unless they have expressly chosen to do so. With or without cycling shorts on.

More info is needed really. Does she have to change in the workplace? Is this a lockable single changing room?

drspouse · 26/02/2019 21:17

I work in an office and there's no chanson room. I sometimes come in e.g. cycling clothes as do other colleagues. I'd get changed in the loos - that's private at least.

fedupntired · 26/02/2019 21:18

My concern would be, if she was in there before the men, that they would swan in and demand that they get changed at the same time.....

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 21:22

Tut now fed

She should be prepared and wearing a body suit or leave immediately.
Women who want space from men while changing are unreasonable you should know that...

RockyFlintstone · 26/02/2019 21:23

My concern would be, if she was in there before the men, that they would swan in and demand that they get changed at the same time.....

Yes exactly, that's why I was wondering if it was lockable changing area.

Periperisauce1 · 26/02/2019 21:26

Peri why is it that your solution totally relies on the woman accommodating men?

cosmic I’m normally the first to complain about sexism but I don’t see it here. They got there first. If I got there first I’d lock the door and get unchanged. If I arrived there after and they were already in there - I’d change some where else.

Periperisauce1 · 26/02/2019 21:27

Women who want space from men while changing are unreasonable you should know that...

There isn’t always space. So you have to find an alternative

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/02/2019 21:29

@RockyFlintstone

OP said But why should she get changed in a toilet? Toilets are for pissing and shitting not getting changed.

GregoryPeckingDuck · 26/02/2019 21:29

Well there has to be a degree of realism though. Many business are far too small to have two changing rooms and her time management issues are her own problem. If she doesn’t feel comfortable changing with the opposite sex then that is fair enough and totally valid but she has to make adjustments around that herself, not her employer. She could possibly just layer one uniform on top of another for example.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/02/2019 21:32

Sorry @Raspberry88

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 21:35

,Greg

The law states if changing rooms are required then single sex they must be.
It makes no difference if its a small business or not. They are breaking the law.

Christ why are women still expected to adjust/accommodate/make do/feel uncomfortable?

SINGLE SEX PROVISIONS WHERE REQUIRED ARE LAW.

TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 21:38

THEY DON'T NEED 2 CHANGING ROOMS.

They need to be allowed to use them in peace. The manager made an error with her comment and should be dealt with, but the company is not the manager.

TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 21:44

You are creating your own outrage and trying to make this into a situation where a company is deliberately discriminating against women. They aren't. This hasn't nothing to do with sexism. Nothing to do with women being discriminated against.

It's first come, first serve. If they choose to to change at work then they need to find somewhere to do it. If that room is being used then wait your turn or go into the toilets. Coffee shop staff come in and leave wearing their uniforms, so I'm doubting that it's company policy to change on the premises. So there probably isn't a legal requirement for any changing rooms. If there is, then they still don't need 2. They just need to be allowed exclusive use when they are in the room. If that's the case, the issue is with the manager not allowing time. But it's not sexist. If she's been there first, the boys would have been the ones in trouble. Not sexist.

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 21:44

Did i say 2 changing rooms?

No i said single sex provision. Learn to read.

Single sex provision can be 1 room used at a time by a single sex. This can be communal or single use.
What was described in the OP was communal use by both sexes to get changed. That is against the law.

TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 21:48

What you're describing only applies if company policy states that they must change on the premises. I do all my design work sitting in coffee shops, so I'm in them a lot. The staff come and go in their uniforms. Just take off their jackets and bags and start work, so I highly doubt that they have a rule that uniform cannot be worn outside. Which means they don't need to provide anything. It's just a room anyone can use. But it's on her to be organised and ready in time. If she chooses to change at work and the room isn't available then she needs to go to the toilets, just like the men would need to do if she'd been in there first.

Nicknacky · 26/02/2019 21:50

cosmic Haven’t you just contradicted yourself?

So you are saying now that it can be one room used by one sex at time.

So what’s the problem?

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 21:50

Are we all ignoring the fact that these men have pestered the woman and made advances yet still she needs to "grow up" and just get changed with them....Christ on a bike.
Dont tell me feminism is no longer needed when this is the response!

RockyFlintstone · 26/02/2019 21:53

If she doesn’t feel comfortable changing with the opposite sex then that is fair enough and totally valid but she has to make adjustments around that herself, not her employer.

That is incorrect. Women do not need to 'make adjustments themselves' to avoid changing in front of men. Her employer is bound by law to provide single sex changing provision.

But only, as others have said, if its policy that she has to get changed on site.

CosmicCanary · 26/02/2019 21:57

Nick can you read?

Single sex provision means just that. A space where you can get changed without the opposite sex present.
Now if a business only has 1 room for this to happen and male and female workers it needs to allow timings for staff to change legally.

I have worked in catering from cafes to fast food and you were not allowed to wear your uniform to work. In fact if you went outside for your break you had to change especially if you smoked.

I am sure lots of businesses do not have this policy but given the OP states at least 2 other staff were changing as well as her friend i think its safe to say the staff have to change and its not choice.

TheInvestigator · 26/02/2019 21:57

The harassment is a separate issue. It won't be the case for every staff member in that place and it doesn't affect the set up of one room which can be used if needed.

The harassment is another thing, which should have been run up the chain to higher management if she's been ignored by her manager.

It sounds like the manager is shit and the woman needs to speak up and tell the area manager or HR about these separate incidents.

Nicknacky · 26/02/2019 21:59

cosmic stop trying to be deliberately rude by insulting posters reading comprehension. It’s not big or clever.

You have already been told by posters that the coffee shop are not required to provide changing facilities. It’s their choice to get changed there and the op’s friends has options.