Help regarding toilet breaks

getzls

I know a guy who got the sack from a Call Centre for similar reasons.
His throat was drying out so he drunk water to help it.
Well as we know what goes in comes out again so they sacked him for taking too many breaks.

Reminds me of years ago working in Harland and Wolff when they had this guy in the Loo timing your Loo breaks.

More than 15 minutes a day and your pay was deducted.

When someone was going to the toilets they used to say, i'm away to the Minutes.

custardy

furthest wrote: »

There is a big difference between a colleague coming in late 50 minutes and a person with a medical condition having to take frequent trips to the bathroom. One cannot be avoided.

I have never worked in a call centre environment, so I am not going to comment on the working conditions or morale. However I have worked in places where reasonable adjustments were made to make life more comfortable for those suffering from medical conditions.

Where has the medical condition come from?

feygan

Seeing lots of odd comments that offer nothing in any way to help with this issue and as I have this thread subscribed it means I am getting at least 2-3 emails per day I do not need so as a last request I will ask those folks who have nothing constructive to add to please not post here.

Moving back to the issue though I have seen some informative posts and some links have helped out somewhat. As far as I can see there exists no regulation or such in the UK at this time that prevents an employer from placing a limitation on a toilet trip.

However I am wondering if the following could be regarded as a loop hole in so far as fighting any possible disciplinary action.

1. My partner suffered an acute medical condition that was brought about directly by the work she does. This is not my view but what her gp told her, she was very specific to ask the question "do you think professionally that my job caused this injury?" This was why she was issued with a doctors sick line to take two weeks rest from work.

2. All employers have a responsibility to the health and safety of all persons in the workplace.

3. Some small studies have shown this type of work has a higher risk of voice injury than other industries, as such a call center should be taking measures to limit the chances of these injuries as per h&s.

4. Two measures that would reduce these injuries are first having a constant supply of water for all employees available at all times, and second by ensuring all employees are trained/made aware of the potential risks to their voice if they do not keep their throat adequately lubricated.

From an employer point of view this would cover them and shift the responsibility onto employees for their own h&s on this issue. However as someone pointed out it is a biological fact that what goes in must come out. If you are telling your staff to actively drink more than usual then it stands to reason they will have to go to the toilet more than usual. To penalise staff for taking too many toilet trips means you are indirectly forcing them into a choice of either soiling themselves in the workplace or reducing water intake to reduce the need for toilet trips, this would mean you are encouraging behaviour that contradicts h&s.

Is there anyone who has a firm of at least 10+ staff members who can offer an argument against this reasoning? Or would it be a logical understanding of what seems to me to just be plain common sense?

tomtontom

feygan wrote: »

Seeing lots of odd comments that offer nothing in any way to help with this issue and as I have this thread subscribed it means I am getting at least 2-3 emails per day I do not need so as a last request I will ask those folks who have nothing constructive to add to please not post here.

Moving back to the issue though I have seen some informative posts and some links have helped out somewhat. As far as I can see there exists no regulation or such in the UK at this time that prevents an employer from placing a limitation on a toilet trip.

However I am wondering if the following could be regarded as a loop hole in so far as fighting any possible disciplinary action.

1. My partner suffered an acute medical condition that was brought about directly by the work she does. This is not my view but what her gp told her, she was very specific to ask the question "do you think professionally that my job caused this injury?" This was why she was issued with a doctors sick line to take two weeks rest from work.

2. All employers have a responsibility to the health and safety of all persons in the workplace.

3. Some small studies have shown this type of work has a higher risk of voice injury than other industries, as such a call center should be taking measures to limit the chances of these injuries as per h&s.

4. Two measures that would reduce these injuries are first having a constant supply of water for all employees available at all times, and second by ensuring all employees are trained/made aware of the potential risks to their voice if they do not keep their throat adequately lubricated.

From an employer point of view this would cover them and shift the responsibility onto employees for their own h&s on this issue. However as someone pointed out it is a biological fact that what goes in must come out. If you are telling your staff to actively drink more than usual then it stands to reason they will have to go to the toilet more than usual. To penalise staff for taking too many toilet trips means you are indirectly forcing them into a choice of either soiling themselves in the workplace or reducing water intake to reduce the need for toilet trips, this would mean you are encouraging behaviour that contradicts h&s.

Is there anyone who has a firm of at least 10+ staff members who can offer an argument against this reasoning? Or would it be a logical understanding of what seems to me to just be plain common sense?

If water was drank at a steady rate the need to go to the toilet would be manageable. The body expels excess water, not that which is needed.

aileth

Could she not just use lozenges?

InsideInsurance

feygan wrote: »

However as someone pointed out it is a biological fact that what goes in must come out. If you are telling your staff to actively drink more than usual then it stands to reason they will have to go to the toilet more than usual. To penalise staff for taking too many toilet trips means you are indirectly forcing them into a choice of either soiling themselves in the workplace or reducing water intake to reduce the need for toilet trips

You have to love people who totally pick and choose what they hear and what they ignore.

What goes in must come out. Yes, but there is more than one way that water comes out of your body.

You did not say that you have been diagnosed as dehydrated just that your throat is dry. Therefore the total amount of liquid in you is sufficient, its just not in the right place because the extra talking causes evaporation and dries your throat out.

You therefore do not need to drink to the extent of actually needing to pee more, the fact it causes you to need to pee more is proof that there is too much water going in as this is how your body deals with excess water.

To lubricate your throat you simply need to have frequent but tiny sips of water or do something that increases saliva production (eg sucking sweets)

EmmaHerts

I haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to give your partner some advice.

Drinking cold water is more likely to make you go to the toilet rather than room temperature.

furthest

bluffer wrote: »

funnily enough, those who take the !!!!, take the !!!!. in every measurement.

strange that. :A

if you have a real medical condition, fair enough. in a 10 hour shift, there are enough breaks in a day and a week and a month to average things out. those who take the mick are usually those who dont care about the job and just dont care.

in my work place, only two people have a medical condition that would make them go to the toilet. strangely, they arent in the top ten of offenders!

You seem to be keeping a close eye on everyone. Worry about your own work.

furthest

custardy wrote: »

Where has the medical condition come from?

The OP's wife seems to be suffering from a medical ailment. The doctors advice was to drink more water. She has followed the doctors advice and this has led to her taking more bathroom breaks.

custardy

furthest wrote: »

The OP's wife seems to be suffering from a medical ailment. The doctors advice was to drink more water. She has followed the doctors advice and this has led to her taking more bathroom breaks.

So there is no medical condition relating to needing the toilet
its simply a side effect to another unrelated medical condition.