work advice with endometriosis

[Kmc01]

hello looking for some advice regarding work. I work in retail and things have changed and we are all required to do some lone trading. This now means I don’t have easy access to the bathroom. In order to go the shop needs to be empty and the door locked. It’s quite a busy shop and if there’s a, pardon the pub, steady stream of people other than anouncing for everyone to leave I’m kind of stuck hoping the shop will empty. My manager is aware of the frequency I need the bathroom but doesn’t think it’s a problem. I feel quite anxious about this for several reasons, heavy bleeding, frequent need to urinate (currently two large cysts on ovaries) and endo with possible bowel involvement (diagnosed by MRI). It’s physically painful for me to have a full bladder. The lone working would be 4-6 hours long. Any advice I’d be very grateful. Thank you K.

[Cailleach]

Hi, Not sure what size of organisation you work for or if there is a HR person, or access to an Occupational Health Department.

It would be worth you putting your issues in writing to your manager with a copy to HR if you have one. If you have an Occupational Health Dept you could ask to be referred so you can discuss how your health is affected by your work and what can be done to help.

When writing to your manager it would be a good idea to have a proposed solution but I am not sure if there is one in this case other than you always working with a colleague or only for very short periods on your own -perhaps over lunch break.

Your issues due to endo could probably be classed as a disability and if so you are entitled to reasonable adaptations to your workplace to assist you.

I wonder if other colleagues have issues as 4-6 hours without a loo break could be a problem for many people especially women who are menstruating for example or are pregnant. One way to address this could be to submit a grievance over the change in working practices.

Do you have a trade union because they would provide advice and assistance?

Citizens Advice could also help with legal advice.

You should also have a look at your employer’s policy on Lone Working ( they should have one), Equality ( as it applies to people with disability) and Grievance.

This is just off the top of my head so definitely try to get some advice if a letter to your boss doesn’t help. It is always good to have a paper trail though.

[Kmc01 in reply to Cailleach]

Thank you for your reply and great advice Cailleach, my worry is the solution as we currently (and with no plans to recruit further) have enough staff to ensure there’s no lone trading for me. And if I wasn’t to do it, the lone trading would fall to my colleagues and some of them aren’t aware of my medical history so it would perhaps cause some resentment within the team. It’s tough isn’t it! I know that I need to do what’s best for me first and foremost but I don’t always find that easy. We do have a HR department and I should definitely consider using it and occ health, i think I just need the confidence to advocate for myself.