Give Us a (Loo) Break
8/3/2010
URTU has given its full support to a campaign calling for a change in the law to bring workplace loos into the 21st century.
In 2003, the TUC, which URTU is an affiliated member, first launched its Gotta Go campaign. Research revealed that, across the UK, many workers had no access to toilets or had to use dirty, poorly maintained ones. Others were docked pay for needing to use the loo, and had to ask if they could be excused to spend a penny. Seven years on it seems the situation has barely changed.
A new TUC report, Give Us a (Loo) Break, published today to coincide with international women's day, says that toilet breaks are not a luxury, but a basic human need, and employers who don't provide staff with toilet facilities are breaking the law. It finds examples of staff having to put their hands up to use the toilet, record the number of times they nip to the loo each day or travel a mile to pee.
The TUC report is critical of employers who still believe that employees should go to the loo in their own time. Others plan work schedules that take no account of toilet breaks or allow a work culture to develop where use of the toilet whenever a worker requires it is frowned upon.
Not being able to use the toilet when nature calls can cause real health problems warns the report. Conditions including digestive and urinary tract problems can develop into more serious health issues, and individuals on certain medications may need to go more often than usual.
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Employers shouldn't be mean and penny pinching over their employees' need to use the loo. They should trust staff and let them take a few minutes away from their work if they need to go.
"Dickensian attitudes to toilet breaks have no place in the modern workplace. Employees should be free to go to the toilet in work time, and not have to raise their hands for permission as if they were back in school, or have their employers keep notes on how long or how often they go for. And when staff do get the loo, they have the right to expect clean, well-ventilated facilities."
Give Us a (Loo) Break says better toilet facilities for UK employees will only come about if:
1.The Health and Safety Executive and local authority inspectors ensure that employers are complying with their obligations under UK safety laws and are providing suitable, sufficient and accessible toilets and washing facilities that are clean, well ventilated, lit and stocked with soap and towels.
2. The law is changed so that employees can go to the toilet whenever they need to, so long as they are not endangering the safety of their colleagues, and in work rather than their own time.
