Help regarding toilet breaks

InsideInsurance

Back in my call centre days it was similar where you'd not sign out of your phone the whole day but simple go into unavailable and enter a code to say what you were doing, 01 break, 02 lunch, 03 toilet, 04 team meeting, 05 speaking to manager etc

There were then two people who had a screen that showed what status all the phones were at and would mark a phone as red when the rules for that code was broken (so more than 1 lunch break or it going over 1hr, more than 2 toilet breaks or them going over 5 minutes each). They'd then be at your desk when you returned asking for an explanation.

Of cause some people would play the game and if they needed to go to the toilet for a third time in a shift they'd put in 05 as the reason code as not to be flagged up.

Obviously not medical advice and she should really follow the info from her docs but typically to wet your throat you only need the tiniest of sips of water and not really something that is going to impact the frequency of needing the loo.

Depending on how serious they are being dictates how seriously you need to go back to them.

A few friends "trained themselves" for going on the Mega Bus before they had toilets so that they could last the 4 hour journey etc. Maybe she needs to learn how to hold it longer

Takeaway_Addict

DKLS wrote: »

Is working in a call centre the modern equivalent of a galley slave?

If she needs to go she needs to go!

A friend of mine who is a club singer gargles with glycerin before going on stage and she swears that has saved her voice, not sure if its an old wives tale but may be worth looking into what professional singers do to keep their voices: I just looked on youtube and there are a bunch of videos on 'Vocal health' which may help.

This maybe true but the company are providing a more than ample break and allow 10 minutes during the day for non work reasons.

It seems a fair enough amount unless a medical issue arises

furthest

Pathetic stuff. I suggest your partner starts looking for a new job.

feygan

While it's an issue that has opinions all over all I am really concerned over is where my partner would stand from a rights perspective should she get issued with a disciplinary action. Could she argue that as she was simply going to the toilet then she has had a basic right violated or not? if argued would the onas be on her to prove she was actually only going to the toilet or can she argue it is the responsibility of the company to have in place systems to monitor employees whereabouts?

Issues over the moral aspect of this or if my partner should look for other work etc really have no bearing or offer any help to the problem, so all I am seeking is how she can oppose this policy and stay on the right side of things from an employment protection point of view.

InsideInsurance

feygan wrote: »

While it's an issue that has opinions all over all I am really concerned over is where my partner would stand from a rights perspective should she get issued with a disciplinary action. Could she argue that as she was simply going to the toilet then she has had a basic right violated or not? if argued would the onas be on her to prove she was actually only going to the toilet or can she argue it is the responsibility of the company to have in place systems to monitor employees whereabouts?

Issues over the moral aspect of this or if my partner should look for other work etc really have no bearing or offer any help to the problem, so all I am seeking is how she can oppose this policy and stay on the right side of things from an employment protection point of view.

Not a HR legal eagle but on the basis you can be dismissed from a job on the basis that medical conditions prohibit you from fulfilling your duties then I dont see any reason why they wouldnt be able to take action against her if she is failing to complete a full shift because she is needing to go to the loo so often.

Can she not however come to a more sensible agreement with her bosses? If she is needing an extra 10 minutes of breaks for the loo can she not start her shift early/ take a 50 minute lunch rather than an hr or such to make back the time?

Once place I worked had 6 hour shifts so no official breaks allowed. The smokers amoungst us just agreed with the team manager for a 10 minute mid shift break as long as (1) we make the time back and (2) we dont all go at the same time.

DKLS

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

This maybe true but the company are providing a more than ample break and allow 10 minutes during the day for non work reasons.

It seems a fair enough amount unless a medical issue arises

It seems overly harsh to me.

iclayt

Is this a temporary problem or one likely to be mid-to-long term?
Could she visit the doctor and ask them to write a letter confirming that she may need more regular toilet breaks for X weeks?
I see someone has mentioned glycerin, she could also try a teaspoon of honey, sucking on a mint. I actually do have to increase my fluid intake for other medical reasons sometimes and I still only go a few times a day. Luckily I have an understanding employer who doesn't bat an eyelid as long as the work still gets done.

"If you have a medical condition which means you have to take a toilet break at other times your employer would not be able to deny you a break" - http://www.worksmart.org.uk/health/viewquestion.php?eny=464

aileth

I think this sort of stuff is ridiculous. I have to go to the toilet regularly and thankfully my job doesn't monitor it. Sometimes I have to go once an hour, whether I've got a bladder like an almond I have no idea, no medical issues.

If she has to go, she has to go. Would they rather she wet herself on the call floor?

InsideInsurance

aileth wrote: »

I think this sort of stuff is ridiculous. I have to go to the toilet regularly and thankfully my job doesn't monitor it. Sometimes I have to go once an hour, whether I've got a bladder like an almond I have no idea, no medical issues.

So you go once and hour and take 5 minutes per time. The OP says its a 10 hour shift and so you are spending 50 minutes in the loo.

Your colleague has normal habits and goes during their official breaks instead. So basically works an extra hour over what you do every day.

You may think its ridiculous that an employer would monitor it, your colleagues may think its ridiculous that you get paid the same as them when your only doing a 9 hour shift

furthest

InsideInsurance wrote: »

So you go once and hour and take 5 minutes per time. The OP says its a 10 hour shift and so you are spending 50 minutes in the loo.

Your colleague has normal habits and goes during their official breaks instead. So basically works an extra hour over what you do every day.

You may think its ridiculous that an employer would monitor it, your colleagues may think its ridiculous that you get paid the same as them when your only doing a 9 hour shift

I wouldn't give a toss. Only a miserable sod would whine about a colleague that needs to take more bathroom breaks.