Can a boss refuse you a toilet break?

[VeeTEC]

Bit of a weird one from me.

My GF has just text me saying she's been told by her boss that she can't go to the toilet as they're too busy. She's absolutely fuming.

She works in a call centre on the phones, so understandably there will be times when she needs to go, but is on a call, so has to wait. From what I can gather she's being told that she can't temporarily log out and go between calls, and has to keep taking calls.

She suffers from IBS, so there are times when she has to run to the toilet without much warning.

Is what her boss is doing legal? Does it not breach some kind of human rights law?

Seems ridiculous to me.

[UncleRic]

Seems like a bit of a piss take.

Or not.

[igiveup]

However there is no specific law which specifically gives employees the right to take time off work to go to the lavatory.

Taken from
http://www.emplaw.co.uk/content/index?startpage=da...

[Flanders.]

She should have done a st on her Desk.

[BoRED S2upid]

igiveup said:

However there is no specific law which specifically gives employees the right to take time off work to go to the lavatory.

Taken from
http://www.emplaw.co.uk/content/index?startpage=da...

Surley there are various laws about duty of care to employees etc...?

[RB26DETT]

Basic human rights ?

[VeeTEC]

Flanders. said:

She should have done a st on her Desk.

That's exactly my stance, and I keep telling her so.

I think if it was me I'd stand up, ask if anyone wants to see a map of africa, and then piss myself.

I can't believe there's no right to go to the toilet in employment law. It just seems wrong.

[Soovy]

There is more to this. She's not telling you the full story.

No employer would do this.

[davemac250]

Take in a potty.

[M-J-B]

Well that's a load of st, it stinks and he's taking the piss.

[Flanders.]

VeeTEC said:

Flanders. said:

She should have done a st on her Desk.

That's exactly my stance, and I keep telling her so.

I think if it was me I'd stand up, ask if anyone wants to see a map of africa, and then piss myself.

I can't believe there's no right to go to the toilet in employment law. It just seems wrong.

nice line.

[anonymous-user]

BoRED S2upid said:

igiveup said:

However there is no specific law which specifically gives employees the right to take time off work to go to the lavatory.

Taken from
http://www.emplaw.co.uk/content/index?startpage=da...

Surley there are various laws about duty of care to employees etc...?

That quote includes plenty of sections about implied rights and how often etc. There's just no specific law about toilet breaks.

[VeeTEC]

BoRED S2upid said:

igiveup said:

However there is no specific law which specifically gives employees the right to take time off work to go to the lavatory.

Taken from
http://www.emplaw.co.uk/content/index?startpage=da...

Surley there are various laws about duty of care to employees etc...?

You'd think, wouldn't you.

It's no wonder certain companies have problems with retention of staff when they treat them like this.

RB26DETT said:

Basic human rights

Again, I can't believe it doesn't apply.

Edited by VeeTEC on Thursday 5th August 13:29

[dmitsi]

It's a call centre, depending on who it's for I can easily imagine them trying this. maybe they're in sales and unhappy bosses want more targets met.
Maybe they've had people taking the piss so have to try and control it better.
Just get up and go to the loo, if they want to try and fire you for this I'm sure they'd be the losers in the long run.

[VeeTEC]

Soovy said:

There is more to this. She's not telling you the full story.

No employer would do this.

You sure about this?

There's plenty of examples from a quick google where people are being refused breaks.

She says she has to put her hand up like a school kid, and ask to go.

[grumbledoak]

Soovy said:

No employer would do this.

I presume you've not been in a call centre. They have to log out with a specific 'code' to say they are going to the loo and the times are summarized and given to the halfwit 'boss'.

[E36GUY]

Employees are entitled to a 20 minute break for every four hours of work on top of whatever lunch break they may be offered which I think is supposed to be a minimum of 30 minutes.

To not be allowed to the lavvy is very odd but her boss is probably within his rights. As a previous poster has mentioned, perhaps there is more to the story. For example, maybe your Mrs is one of those that is off to the loo every 1/2 hour as some are which annoys the boss?

[sleep envy]

grumbledoak said:

Soovy said:

No employer would do this.

I presume you've not been in a call centre. They have to log out with a specific 'code' to say they are going to the loo and the times are summarized and given to the halfwit 'boss'.

it might be the case that she's taking the piss when going for a pony

[ApexJimi]

Soovy said:

There is more to this. She's not telling you the full story.

No employer would do this.

You'd be surprised.

[arun1uk]

The boss is making it up, and she should know the process anyway.
Call Centre agents are allowed a certain amount of "wrap up" time after completing a call, plus they have to take a break after a few hours, by law.

Tell her to tell the supervisor he's a dick. If the manager resourced his call centre properly, then he wouldnt have to push his employees so hard to achieve SLA!