Workplace bathroom usage/ medical

[Mark180]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New york

I went to the bathroom twice while at work and the second time, my boss clocked me. He waited for me to return and gave me an earful about how I'm wasting time and it took 20 minutes. In my defense, I'm in construction and it takes 3-4 minutes to get from my work area to my coat (the restroom is outside) and 7 minutes each way to get to the restroom, leaving 2-3 minutes to use the restroom. I explained this, but he was still mad because I wasn't on my break. I have high blood pressure and take a water pill, which makes me go more often, but my boss doesn't know this. Should I tell him this?, I don't want to lose my job as a result of using the bathroom

 

[commentator]

Not much you can do except accept that he has timed you, thought the time you took was excessive, and chewed you out, accept it and move forward. Be very careful in the future to be pro-active about your bathroom trips, try to schedule them so that the employer is not smacked in the face by your being off the job. Do not dally on your way to chat with co workers, smoke a couple of cigarettes or eat a snack.

You do not have a Labor Law-given right to go to the potty whenever you need to without harrassment, and it is not, at the present, a documented accomodation to a documented disabiity for you. It would not accomplish anything to report to your employer that you are on high blood pressure meds and so have to go frequently.

So if you demanded the right to go when you darn well please, you'd be on very shaky ground related to law. According to the laws of your state, your employer can fire you at any time for any reason. You have the right to quit for any reason. But perhaps if you are more time sensitive in the future your bathroom breaks will not be such a problem. Most employers do not really want to take something to the mat and fire an employee. If they think their chewing you out has fixed the situation, it will blow over soon.

 

[csi7]

A suggestion to help relieve the pressure of having to "go" right when, use a panty liner. It will keep you from wetting yourself, and help relieve the stress of being on a timed schedule.

 

[You Are Guilty]

A suggestion to help relieve the pressure of having to "go" right when, use a panty liner. It will keep you from wetting yourself, and help relieve the stress of being on a timed schedule.

I'm not sure "Mark" is big on wearing panties, but +1 for thinking outside the box.

 

[ESteele]

First, are you in a union? If so, you should confer with your shop steward about possibly filing a grievance.

Second, I do not perceive a downside for you in asking HR to initiate the steps necessary for an accommodation to utilize the bathroom twice a day in order to accommodate your medical condition. At a minimum, the processing of the accommodation paperwork may provide you with a level of protection from more write-ups.

Third, based on your post, OP, it appears peculiar that a supervisor would write up anyone for going to the bathroom twice in a day under these circumstances. Many, if not most, individuals not taking any medications would probably need at least a single bathroom break within a 3.5 hour work period. If a round trip to the bathroom is fourteen minutes, then twenty minutes total does not appear beyond reason.

Finally, you may want to investigate the web site for the NYS Department of Labor. I suspect there are state regulations on providing requisite bathroom breaks for employees in general and for construction workers in particular.

 

[davew128]

I'm not sure "Mark" is big on wearing panties, but +1 for thinking outside the box.

Quoted for posterity!

 

[csi7]

I said panty liners. I know several of the guys I used to work with wore them, and we had discussions about the best brands.
Definitely, thank you for the positive for thinking outside the box.