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Work question: bathroom breaks?

Recently there have been some weird changes at work.  One of them is that they implemented a time clock for some reason, like I'm 15 again and clocking in at Papa John's.  Whatever.

Now they're trying to tell us that we have to wait until break time to use the bathroom.  I think this is unreasonable and shouldn't be permitted.  Is there any kind of law or interpretation of the law that would back me up?  Because I'm about to confront some people about this.  I think it's ridiculous.  I'll be damned if you think you're going to cause me to get a UTI because I have to wait till my freaking lunch hour to piss.

Go babies Caden!

Re: Work question: bathroom breaks?

  • Are you non exempt?  Do you have to clock in and out each day anyway?
  • That is so messed up. Please please please let this not be legal. I mean, it CAN'T be...right?
  • Dude, when I was on the mfg floor I didn't have to wait for scheduled breaks to potty. For a desk job? Hells no.
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  • nsfwnsfw member

    DH's old employer had really weird bathroom restrictions. Like, you got three minutes a day total to use the bathroom during your hours. If you didn't want penalized for it you had to go on your breaks.

    It was ridiculous. That whole company was ridiculous, though. 

    Do they not have accommodations for people with IBS or whatever? Pregnant people?

    I have to use the bathroom about once an hour. It's frequent but holding it gets extremely uncomfortable and sometimes painful.  I'd be pissed, too. No pun intended.

    image
  • imagemeshaliu:
    Dude, when I was on the mfg floor I didn't have to wait for scheduled breaks to potty. For a desk job? Hells no.

    Seriously.  When I worked a cash register, you were supposed to wait for your break, but if you really had to go, a manager would relieve you for five minutes.

    Damn.

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  • imageECUPirate04:
    Are you non exempt?  Do you have to clock in and out each day anyway?
    Right.  If you're exempt, I don't know that they can enforce that against you.  But I don't know for sure. 
    image
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  • I would be peeing on an awful lot of office chairs outta spite.

    Ridic. 

    image
  • I had a job like this in customer service.  I was once reprimanded for leaving my desk for 15 seconds during peak time.  I had to pick up something I had printed.  They basically forced people to use their breaks to pick up things they printed as well as go to the bathroom or whatever they were going to use their breaks for.

    I think as long as they are giving you adequate (whatever the legal requirement for that is) breaks, they can make you only use it during that time.  It's incredibly messed up, but not sure it's illegal, as long as it's not a disability that causes you to have to go to the bathroom (b/c that could mess with the ADA).

    I'm just thinking out loud - that's not actual legal advice about wherever you work.

  • That's such BS. If EVERYONE has to clock in and out, I don't really mind, but I mean EVERYONE, like all the way up the ladder. But bathroom breaks? I drink like 100 ounces of water a day. I pee every 90 minutes or so it seems.

    My company has a new COO and we're finally really being treated like adults who are trusted to come in on time and do our jobs, which is a really nice feeling.

    ETA: I'd claim a "medical issue" which makes you need to use the bathroom on demand.

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  • Check OSHA guidelines and labor laws for your specific state.  You can also call and file a complaint with OSHA. 

    ETA:  corrected to clarify I meant OSHA and specific state labor laws.

  • I think I might try that medical issue thing.  What's ridiculous is that I've been here 4 years and they are just now treating everyone like children.  The bathroom break thing has really chapped my a$$ though.
    Go babies Caden!
  • Dude, even children can use the bathroom during class.

    Team Basement Cat imageKnitting&Kitties
  • Story time!

    I work in manufacturing and those that are on the actual floor are in clean room suits which take awhile to get on/off. Anyway, one of the managers decided that he didn't like the random bathroom breaks and told his department they had to do their business on breaks. Consequently, a supervisor came to my office (HR) telling me she's been following one employee around because she tinkles all the way down the hall because she can't hold it all dang day. Yeah. After a brief discussion, we told the manager it was probably not a good idea to restrict breaks like that.

    Basically, you could always just pee your pants all the way down the hall to the bathroom. It might solve your issue quickly.

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  • imageL_Woods:
    I work in manufacturing and those that are on the actual floor are in clean room suits which take awhile to get on/off. Anyway, one of the managers decided that he didn't like the random bathroom breaks and told his department they had to do their business on breaks. Consequently, a supervisor came to my office (HR) telling me she's been following one employee around because she tinkles all the way down the hall because she can't hold it all dang day. Yeah. After a brief discussion, we told the manager it was probably not a good idea to restrict breaks like that.

    That is EXACTLY why we could bounce to potty whenever we needed. Do you know how long it takes to resanatize a clean room? And I'm not writing up the incident report for that. No.

    Team Basement Cat imageKnitting&Kitties
  • November 03, 1999
    And Dilberts boss is generous compared to where I work., We get 18 minutes of unscheduled "personal time-ie bathroom breaks) per WEEK. Now granted we ger 15 minutebreak every 2 hours and a 30 minute lunch after 4 hours
  • imagemeshaliu:

    Dude, even children can use the bathroom during class.

     

     

    For real. I tell my kids that I treat them like adults so they can go when they want, except they have to sign out so i know where they are. We do have lots of discussions about when are smart times to leave and when it's not good to leave. Also, I talk to chronic leavers. But apparently I shouldn't tell them I'm treating them like adults lol since adults can't go when they want. 

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