#EmploymentRights #BathroomBreaks #EmployeeRights
Hey everyone, I need some advice on a situation I’m dealing with at work. So, I work for a national lawn care company and I’m out on the road running a route all day in a truck. Recently, management has told us not to make any stops before getting to our first job, which can be up to 2 hours away. 🚚💼
The issue is, sometimes nature calls and I need to take a quick bathroom break. Just today, I stopped for less than 5 minutes and received a text from management. I’ve already made it clear that if I need to pee, I’m going to stop. But now I’m wondering, can they actually stop me from taking bathroom breaks? And if not, what are my options if they continue to enforce this rule? 🚽💬
Possible solutions that come to mind:
– Look into the labor laws in your state regarding bathroom breaks
– Talk to HR or a workers’ rights organization for guidance
– Consider talking to your coworkers to see if they are experiencing the same issue and if they have any suggestions
Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! Let’s support each other in navigating workplace challenges like this. 💪🏼 #SupportEachOther #Empowerment #WorkplaceRights
OSHA Restroom Break Laws. **The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide all workers — including transgender employees — with prompt access to a clean restroom**.
Yeah, it’s ridiculous. How dare we be actual humans! Honestly, I would just stop when needed and don’t tell them. I don’t know if they are tracking you or whatever, but if they are and you stop, you just matter of factly inform them you needed to use the bathroom. But, just start doing it and stop asking them. I find that if I just do what I need to do and don’t ask permission, then it’s easier. Asking then turns into some kind of power play. Just approach it matter of fact and just go when you need to go and don’t tell them as then it gives them an opportunity to argue and play their power play.
Absolutely bs, you go to the toilet when you got to go ! Sorry that you feel you need to ask this question 🙁 really sad that employers can be such jerks but I am hoping they weren’t thinking you would have to delay a much needed toilet break when they gave you instructions
An employer can only stop you from doing the things you allow them to stop you from doing. However, unless you are willing to quit, you usually don’t have much leverage.
This reminds me of that lady in the movie “click” that keeps asking Adam Sandler to use the bathroom 🤣
But you shouldn’t ever have to ask! That’s insane. Especially as an adult lol
Assuming in the US.
OSHA requires employers and employees to be reasonable when it comes to bathroom access. There are no strict laws on the issue because of the almost infinite different scenarios. So it just comes down to whether the employee or employer is acting reasonable.
I would say you are acting reasonable here, unless you are leaving out some key information.
> My questions are- can they stop me from going to the bathroom?
No one can stop you. Lol. But the question is more can the company take action against you, such as firing you. Again, as long as you are acting reasonably they can’t (legally).
> And if not, what are my options if they continue trying to enforce this?
Not sure what they are really enforcing at this point. You got a text. There’s been no punishment. Employers have the legal ability to contact their employees. Maybe track this information and have a more direct conversation with management about the subject. I’d advise just to be “reasonable” here.
https://www.osha.gov/restrooms-sanitation
They may be able to stop you from taking bathroom breaks, but they can’t stop you from going to the bathroom…
Ask them if they preferred you to piss all over the cab of the truck
Just tell them you have diarrhea.
There are some cases where you might need to wait for someone to come and cover your station while you go, but this is not one of them.
I’ve been told real men wear diapers
If they don’t want you to stop and bleed the lizard, just start pissing in their vehicles.
Contact your regional department of labor. They are VERY helpful & can take care of this for you.
Give them the texts & any written policies on this issue. They can intervene and correct this. Honestly a pretty easy fix bc this is just an uninformed manager. DOL will inform the company of their legal duty and it should be fixed.
No, it’s illegal for an employer to restrict access to safe drinking water or toilet facilities. If you need to stop on your way to a job site, be sure the company equipment is safe from theft / damage while you’re away from it.
However… try using the bathroom before you leave work so you don’t need to stop on the way. Two hours isn’t all that long. Have you had your prostate checked?
I can’t believe grown adults have to ask this question. Honestly I think it’s shameful the way children aren’t allowed to use the bathroom freely at school and have to go during scheduled times or request a bathroom pass (which is often denied). It seems inhumane to me.
FWIW the average adult should be able to go a few hours without peeing. If you pee before you get on the road and have to stop an hour or two later you might have an underlying health concern. It’s a subtle and painless symptom. I didn’t realize I was going more frequently than was normal until I was getting up 3-4 times a night, which I knew was a bad sign esp for someone in their 30s. Found out I had a disease that was impacting my kidneys and amping up my thirst drive, which resulted in the frequent and urgent urination. I didn’t think I felt excessively thirsty, nothing seemed unusual, and I was working from home so I didn’t notice when it became abnormal (I had other pains and issues but truly didn’t even notice this as a problem). Now that I’ve been treated I can tell how bad it actually was. Just a thought. Might be worth tracking your liquid intake and bathroom frequency and asking a doctor.
Document and ignore. every single time, document it in a way they can’t control, i.e. if it’s on a work phone, take a photo of the text on your personal phone. DON’T TAKE A SCREEN SHOT TO SEND TO YOURSELF, if they are monitoring you that closely, they’ll be able to see all that stuff remotely. if they keep sending these messages, or escalate it and try to punish you with so much as a write up, the whole bundle gets sent to osha and the state department of labor. don’t acknowledge the messages, leave them on read. they will take anything you say as arguing and disrespect.
You can passive aggressively respond with…
“I understand your concern for optimizing time mngmnt in regards to meeting the needs of our clients. However I do not consent to being part of a legal investigation in which OSHA rules were violated”
I remember those stories of Amazon drivers having pee bottles because of something like this. It’s not legal.
What year are we in ? Lol I can’t believe we have to deal with this crap . Employee rights all the way !!!
Shit in a to-go bag and drop it on that managers desk.
I guess they can try. I’d personally ignore that rule whenever I needed to and have done that. Its so dumb it makes you wonder how some of these managers can Velcro their shoes in the am.
I would provide your employer materials on prostate and kidney health and about the damage done when you’re repeatedly prevented from relieving yourself when needed, and advise them that you would be suing them for damages, including the cost of long-term treatment, which would be millions. You have the necessary proof with their text messages indicating their policy as evidence of their culpability in the situation.
I guess you could arc out the door as you drive down the road, but that requires a talent you may not have and the Social and legal ramifications may be unfortunate.
Do you get paid to travel to your first site?
>I stopped for less than 5 minutes today and got a text from management.
Jesus Christ, these fucking companies. I’m really ready to start bouncing some craniums on live TV.
Dude (dudette?)…. Just grow a bigger bladder. Sheesh. /s
Would it be better if you pissed in the client’s yard? Asking for a friend.
Try being a school teacher, sometimes you couldn’t pee for 1/2 a day. Other days are extremely limited. 78 staff members & 2 bathrooms (1 toilet each). 15 min lunches & work while you eat. I love retirement!
No they cannot. They need to piss off with that shit.
[Employers must:](https://www.osha.gov/restrooms-sanitation)
• Allow workers to leave their work locations to use a restroom when needed.
•Provide an adequate number of restrooms for the size of the workforce to prevent long lines.
•Avoid imposing unreasonable restrictions on restroom use.
•Ensure restrictions, such as locking doors or requiring workers to sign out a key, do not cause extended delays
Shit your pants at work, is what they expect you to do.