I work retail in a very slow mall and I normally work weekdays by myself until 5 or 6 pm. I’m very lucky if someone comes in to give me a break, I’m expected to eat my lunch while helping customers if they come in which is fine except I am not allowed to sit down at all! I understand not being able to sit down while working but when eating my lunch which is supposed to be my break I would love to sit down. Also bathroom breaks are a no no, even though I’m there all day my manager expects me to be able to hold it and gets pissed if I close the store to go. I need a new job! —78954
This article appears in Dec 8-14, 2011.
Yes, indeed you do. Labour laws are being breached. Just quit and move on that place sucks.
Piss on the manager………. oh yes, what exactly are they managing if they are not there?
I was surprised and pissed off a few years ago when I found out that Nova Scotia is one of the few provinces WITHOUT mandatory break regulations. The woman at the labour office rationalized it by saying, “if they don’t give breaks, word will spread and people will stop working for them.” Uhhu, very helpful. I ended up leaving the place after another couple months myself, but guess what! People still work there. I think the labour office’s theory would only work if you have more jobs than people. Aka, not in NS. Just a weak rationalization for a law that puts companies before basic human needs or, in this case, bodily functions.
I’d be applying for any job I could. Or, you know, stand up for yourself. Take the boss aside for a minute and say “look, I don’t think it’s that much to ask that I be able to go to the bathroom and sit down for 10 minutes to eat my lunch”
Tommy, you want her to eat her lunch in the bathroom???
ug, I don’t think food should be in there in any way/shape/form.
OP, what the hell happens when you call in sick?
this can’t be real…she says hopefully. very slow mall, open til five or six. brss?
If you agreed to no breaks when you signed all of those papers when you got the job, you can’t do anything but quit. I think there is a way around it though.. maybe get a doctor’s note saying you are required to use the facilities 2-3 times per day. My friend worked at this stupid department store for a while and they had this rule that you weren’t allowed to drink water/have a water bottle with you while you were working. Everybody just got doctors’ notes saying that they needed water to stay hydrated or something stupid, and they were allowed.
Uh.. I lost count of how many laws are being broken.
Immediately slap your employer with documentation of your rights. Keep everything you experience in writing with a date and time stamp and if your employer tries to fire you because you’re trying to enforce your rights, nail him to the wall.
In tough economic times, you’re lucky to have a job in the first place. Be thankful.
I’d go anyway. You see signs posted all the time ” back in 5 minutes”…just add more to the sign right before you quit..” Gone to eat my lunch in the shitter because my asshole of a manager will not allow me to eat here, oh and P.S do not waste your time returning, no one will be here!”
Fuck. Even Dorchester gives it’s inmates a piss break. I haven’t heard of any employer legally denying their employees bathroom breaks. It’s a bodily function. You can’t control it. That’s like saying you’re not allowed to blink while working. They may be able to limit/emliminate your breaks but they can’t stop you from going to the bathroom. What do they expect you to do, piss your pants? Fuck them. If you gotta go, then go. They can’t stop you. And if they kicked up a stink about it, I’d piss in the corner right before I bailed on their ass.
Quit. Especially this time of year. Leaves that shit store with no one to manage it.
I’ll rephrase Z, you…………. …. jerkface..
“look, I don’t think it’s that much to ask that I be able to go to the bathroom AND ALSO THAT I BE ABLE TO and sit down for 10 minutes to eat my lunch, and not in the bathroom, and I don’t want to eat and go to the bathroom at the same time either”
I agree, I remember when we used to be in the bathrooms in high school, rollin joints n shit, and there were actually kids in there, hangin out, eatin a sandwich n shit… that shit disgusted me, I didn’t even like using those bathrooms.
They should at least let you go to the bathroom. Jesus. I’d like to see what Scrooge Grinch type person is in charge of your store that they can’t even begrudge you the *potential* lost sales of a 5 minute bathroom break in this *very slow* mall. People seem to be of the opinion that they can treat their employees like slaves just because they’re “lucky” to have the job. I say to them job well done on being a shitty person.
LAbor Standards Code ,Sec 66B, employees are entitled to a thirty minute rest or eating break if their shift is longer than 5 consecutive hours.
Actually there is a clause in the labor standards that bathroom facilities have to be available, & I can’t find it, but you’ve gotta be allowed to go to the bathroom, what are we in grade primary ? How can you be sanctioned for going to take care of a bodily function & it is proven that holding it, can be harmful . Kidney stones from dehydration, bladder infections.
I think the term is “fuckface,” Thomas.
OP, is it possible that there was a miscommunication between you and your boss?
I am wondering if (s)he was expressing concern about an empty store, and it came out sounding like you were not allowed to go to the bathroom.
You need to ask for clarity on this policy. Even if there is a ‘no bathroom break’ policy, you need to know what the procedure is when you absolutely have to go. Do you lock the store? Do you leave it unattended? Is there mall security? Will they officially or unofficially stand watch for you?
Oh thank you more, least I didn’t have to yell, id never bother quoting facts, that’s not any fun, but curbs my rants quite nicely, good job and thx man
“I’m expected to eat my lunch while helping customers if they come in which is fine except I am not allowed to sit down at all!”
What? You utter a muffled “Can I help you?” through a mouthful of food. That’s terribly unprofessional. I’m not blaming you OP,I’m blaming your manager. Lunchtime, if you choose to take it, should be time for yourself. I really question the legality of what the employers expect of you. No bathroom breaks? Rivergirl2011 has the right idea, just lock the door and post “back in five” when nature calls.
Definitely look elsewhere, they can always find some sap to do that job, for a while anyway. Maybe skinnyvanillalatte.
I talked to a couple of business associates & one mentioned that under the Occupational Health & Safety act.
THat employers have to commit to workers ‘health & safety’
So since not going to the bathroom can cause medical problems , it is a safety issue. So you cannot be refused a visit to the bathroom.
WHile this ‘Act’ is usually for assigned work, for example you can’t be told to ride on the forks of a forklift (for obvious reasons).
NS OH&S act
43-1 Any employee may refuse to do any act at the employee’s place of employment where the employee has reasonable grounds for believing that the act is likely to endanger the employee’s health or safety or the health & safety of any other person.
Since there is proven medical complications from ‘holding it’ your employer cannot refuse you access to the bathroom. Because it is covered under OH&S, the employer can’t even fine or sanction you. If they did, you have grounds for legal action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7yBoqHLj3I
Holy broken labour laws batman! Get out of there OP! Or lock up for bathroom breaks, they can’t restrain you from doing so, lots of people who work sole shifts do it.
this is what you meant Tommy…. isn’t it?
http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/taiwan…
no last-second take-backs….
triple stamped it, no erasies, touch blue makes it true.
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