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Original poster

Can manager deny you the toilet

36 replies

hateworkgo · 08/08/2023 19:11

My manager has said no to me and colleagues when asking to use the toilet. I have been on my period before and told no and I was really uncomfortably bleeding.
Is this against our human right? It feels so wrong. She says we have to wait nd then we can't go for over an hour

OP posts:
dearJayne · 08/08/2023 19:12

Why are you asking permission from another adult to use the bathroom? Just use it.

WhereshallIwander · 08/08/2023 19:13

Yes, I'm sorry but that's bang out of order. How patronising!

cruffinsmuffin · 08/08/2023 19:13

Why are you asking to go? Just go.

Jojobees · 08/08/2023 19:14

I guess depending on your job it’s not always immediately possible to just go. But you shouldn’t be denied access as soon as is practical to go to the toilet.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 08/08/2023 19:14

Aye ?. Just go to the fucking toilet . Use your words ! Are you 5 years old and didn't go at lunchtime . Tell the manager to get fucked

Shitzngiggles · 08/08/2023 19:15

Where on earth do you work that you have to ask permission to go to the toilet?

Original poster
hateworkgo · 08/08/2023 19:16

I work in a shop! When on a checkout or supervising you can't just leave and have to ask for cover

OP posts:
Ilikewinter · 08/08/2023 19:16

Seriously????

WhereshallIwander · 08/08/2023 19:16

cruffinsmuffin · 08/08/2023 19:13

Why are you asking to go? Just go.

Where do you work OP?

Office?
School?
Factory ?
Shop?
Hospital?

Might help for a bit of context too.

I say this because sometimes when I'm at work I have to hold on and I always tell the other member of staff when I go but that's because we can't leave the kids alone in the classroom.

Perhaps it might be similar in a hospital situation and there is a staff shortage.

WomanAtWork · 08/08/2023 19:19

It depends. If you are lollipop lady helping small children cross the road, it’s unrealistic to expect a loo break.

if you’re going every 30 mins, well that’s something else again

just say to the manager, “if you forbid it there will be blood all over my uniform/chair which will just waste more time as I will need to rinse clothing or go home.” See what reaction that gets. Take it to Hr if it doesn’t get the reaction you want.

in vast majority of situations you should be allowed to go to the loo when nature calls.

DiddlyDonut · 08/08/2023 19:20

hateworkgo · 08/08/2023 19:16

I work in a shop! When on a checkout or supervising you can't just leave and have to ask for cover

Be more assertive - Don't ask for permission, ask for cover. Say you will be needing a comfort break so cover needs to be found within the next 5 minutes otherwise it'll be temporarily unmanned.

In a previous role I made a sign saying 'back in 5' as often cover wouldn't be found.

IndianSummer78 · 08/08/2023 19:23

I had this when I worked on reception desk as a switchboard operator. Was a nightmare because I have IBS. Used to spend so much of my working life skipping lunch. I don't know what the answer is. Or the law. But I understand your frustration OP. You can tell from replies most of Mumsnet works in jobs where they have full autonomy over how their time is spent. For people who don't have office jobs (or who are client facing) it's not so easy to just go to the toilet whenever you want. Acting like there's something wrong with OP for not doing so, isn't helpful

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 08/08/2023 19:24

hateworkgo · 08/08/2023 19:11

My manager has said no to me and colleagues when asking to use the toilet. I have been on my period before and told no and I was really uncomfortably bleeding.
Is this against our human right? It feels so wrong. She says we have to wait nd then we can't go for over an hour

Dont ask, just go. This is not legal

NoTouch · 08/08/2023 19:24

There are some jobs where this could be an issue.

How often do you need to ask for cover? Do you have a medical issue that means you can't plan around break times and a Dr note may help?

PleaseGiveMeBackMySummer · 08/08/2023 19:26

WTF? No-one would ever be stopping ME going to the bloody toilet! Confused

Original poster
hateworkgo · 08/08/2023 19:28

I don't have any bladder issues but I have heavy periods and my bladder isn't so strong after having a baby a year ago!
I'm scared to get in trouble if I just tell them I'm going and my department would fall apart. I'd be very much in trouble unfortunately and I can't afford to lose my job

OP posts:
bellac11 · 08/08/2023 19:29

Not ideal but the same people commenting would probably be on here moaning if they were in a shop and the shop assistant just left the floor/till and vanished for 5 mins keeping everyone waiting

Depending on what else is going on in the shop and what sort of shop it is, there might not be any cover

However I do agree with saying more forcefully that you need the toilet and must go and also speak to HR about what the expectations are

FirstFallopians · 08/08/2023 19:30

Maybe if you were working as a nurse on a very short-staffed intensive care ward could I see maybe why you’d have to check there was sufficient cover before you nipped off. In retail? Fuck no!

Can you ask her to show you the company policy where it’s laid out that staff need to ask permission to go to the loo, and ask what health and safety considerations have been given.

Don’t say that it’s against your human rights- say it’s significantly impacting you and your colleagues dignity at work.

She sounds like she’s on a power trip.

GuardiansPlayList · 08/08/2023 19:30

PleaseGiveMeBackMySummer · 08/08/2023 19:26

WTF? No-one would ever be stopping ME going to the bloody toilet! Confused

There are lots of jobs where you can’t just go to the loo whenever you want.

VikingLady · 08/08/2023 19:30

Your manager can't actually legally deny it, but it looks like it's hard to prove since it comes under general health and safety rules, which don't specify the word "toilet".

I had this years ago in a call centre. In the end I told my manager I had taken legal advice (thank you internet, not a real lawyer!) and was planning to sue her personally as well as the company if I got an infection.

Can manager deny you the toilet
Whaleandsnail6 · 08/08/2023 19:31

I dont think its unreasonable to have to wait for cover in certain situations. But I think cover should be found as quickly as possible. So I don't think its totally off for you to have to wait for someone to cover your till for example, but It is unacceptable if you have to wait until next changeover time.

We take turns sitting for an hour with vulnerable patients who cant be left. If I need the toilet during this time, I cant just walk off and leave them. I can ask for someone to come and relieve me to use the toilet but it might not be instant

midnights0 · 08/08/2023 19:31

I work on checkouts, we tend to just go, I just let someone know I'm going (there's always someone else there) they've never denied it

HAF1119 · 08/08/2023 19:32

In your case, I would request a meeting with your supervisor or manager in the first instance. Explain what happened and how it made you feel as well as the impact it has. You can disclose in regards to having to change sanitary products whilst on shift.

Being reasonable with unreasonable sometimes helps - you understand they can't find cover for the till instantly, but what can they do to provide cover shortly after it is requested, and ask what you should do if you was to have a bout of IBS and need the toilet as it feels like there is currently no provisions and that would cause you both discomfort and anxiety

If they are useless/give you nothing positive from it request a meeting with HR, but also begin looking for alternative employment as it's just not worth your mental health to work with people who can't find a way to give you a 2 minute comfort break - they wouldn't be treating you with respect or humanity, and I'd rather work elsewhere

Waterweir · 08/08/2023 19:40

In a secondary school leaving a class without adult supervision is forbidden. You can text the person responsible for cover and see if anyone is available to free you for five minutes but in my experience it is a big hassle and they may not be able to find anyone.
I had a child explosively sick on me. I sent another student to ask the teacher next door to report it. I was with the sick child. The school nurse turned up and took away the child. The caretaker came to clear up and I had to ask him to look after the class while I raced to wash my hands.
Mumsnet is full of posters who do not understand that many people cannot suddenly leave work and stroll along to the loo. Surgeons, nurses, teachers etc etc.
Sadly, we don't all work from home with full human rights protection to go to the loo whoever we wish.
Sorry OP, it is miserable being in your position. It is yet another disadvantage of retail work. I don't know how it can be sorted to help all of the above roles.

rwalker · 08/08/2023 19:41

To have to wait fine a flat no isn’t

do you work for a big organisation
if so ask for OHS referral for heavy periods
tell them you’ve been refused the toilet

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