Employer questioning my toilet habits

spiritus

I know it may sound like a jokey thread but I'm actually upset about this. Last week I was questioned by my manager as to how often I go to the toilet normally during the day. Shortly before that a sub-manager asked me a similar question (I believe they conferred with each other).


On that particular day I had been to the toilet twice which is not out of the ordinary.


I don't go any more or less than other members of staff nor do I spend longer in the toilet than anyone else.


I'm not sure how to handle this as I feel humiliated and quite angry that I have been singled out for this type of questioning.


My wife has suggested I confront my manager and ask for a justification for asking me the question and if the answer isn't satisfactory then I should file a grievance complaint.


Any advice would be appreciated.

keyser666

dont confront first and foremost and what sector and sort of role do you do and how many hours and breaks?

superbigal36

So they asked you a question and you answered.
Move on.

As the biscuit advert says
Have a break
Have a quick crap

spiritus

keyser666 wrote: »

dont confront first and foremost and what sector and sort of role do you do and how many hours and breaks?

It's retail.


I work 10 hours a week but on that particular shift I was working five hours. I went to the loo just before my shift and once again in the middle of my shift.


I am not entitled to any breaks on that shift.

esuhl

spiritus wrote: »

It's retail.


I work 10 hours a week but on that particular shift I was working five hours. I went to the loo just before my shift and once again in the middle of my shift.


I am not entitled to any breaks on that shift.

You ARE entitled to lavatory breaks! There's no way a company could expect anyone to just "hold it" for five hours.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

spiritus wrote: »

I went to the loo just before my shift and once again in the middle of my shift.

so you had only one break in 5 hour shift, do you smoke, maybe they think you are having a fly fag.

nonnatus

The fact that they've both raised it with you would definitely suggest they have a problem with it!! Which I think is totally out of order.
I certainly couldn't manage a 5 hour shift without needing to pop out once for a quick wee. I know there are people out there with bladders like camels but my whole family have bladders the size of egg cups!!
I would be very indignant to be questioned about it, so you need to find out why they think it's so odd - as the previous poster asked - do you smoke? Maybe they think you're taking a fag break?? Do none of the other staff go to the loo? Are you taking an overly long time in there??


Interested to see how this one develops!

Dovah_diva

I think it is key to find out how long you are in there for. If you are only a couple of minutes, then they are being unreasonable. If, however, it is 10 minutes at a time, then they have a valid point. At my husband's place of work there were a couple of employees who would regularly hide in the toilet when there was a particularly onerous task to be done. Are you sure you are not such an employee?

The fact that they have raised the question indicates they have a problem with you being away from work station (for want of a better phrase). We can't say whether that is reasonable or not without further information. Also to be considered is how long have you been employed by the company and do you want to stay with them? Raising a grievance can make working life very difficult - I would only recommend it if you are absolutely certain this is the only course of action. I'd be inclined to brush it off and move on.

moneyistooshorttomention

Presumably they don't have any women working for them then?

Women need to go to the loo more often and for longer periods of time and, 'scuse if TMI, but if its the Wrong Time of the Month then there might be times when they have to get there instantly and blow the job.

As a man and only going to the loo twice a day that's far from excessive in anyone's book (provided you aren't sticking around in there and smoking a crafty fag as well). If you're just straightforward going to the loo and coming straight back to work then they have no cause to complain.

Personally, I'd be keeping my own records in your position as to how often I went and for how long - and make them "detailed";). That way you prove you aren't taking too long and, hopefully, gross them out with those "details";).

That's exactly what I would do in your position. Obviously, as a woman I could do a good bit more "grossing out" with "details" than you are in a position to do as a man. But I still advocate that tactic.

spiritus

I know in forums like these there is always an element of doubt as to whether the OP is giving the whole story and not withholding something that might explain the reason for the complaint.


I can assure you that in my case there is no reason for me to have been questioned like that.


My supervisor remarked "again ?" when I went to the toilet in the afternoon for the first time during my shift and a short while later my manager asked me how often do I normally go during the day (presumably after my supervisor had spoken to her).


I don't linger during my toilet visits and spend the same time as anyone else does i.e. a few moments.


Some have advised me to leave it alone and forget about it but I have a feeling that if I do nothing then this may develop.


My work ethic has never been questioned and if anything I have always been praised as one of the more reliable members of the team.


There have been changes with a new management team on board and unfortunately everyone is having to "prove" themselves all over again.


If one of the new management team has got some unfounded bee in her bonnet that I am not pulling my weight then I'm inclined to nip this in the bud before it festers and I get blamed for something else.


No other member of staff have been questioned in this manner.

moneyistooshorttomention

Indeed...I would be inclined to "nip this in the bud" in your position because of being the only staff member subjected to this. I had some being "picked on" when I was still working and basically worked out that it was best to react with ways of making it "too much of a headache" to keep doing this to me by retaliating with constant questioning/details/etc until they decided it was just too much trouble to "stay on my case" and left me alone.

I too was a decent employee and didn't "take the Michael" and therefore didn't deserve the "being picked on" they were doing.