Is my employer okay to sit me down and discuss my toilet breaks due to pregnancy?

[Amreenak]

Hey girls, so today my manager (male) pulled me in to the office. He explained that management had noticed my frequent trips to the ladies toilets and me taking 5 minutes to have a snack break. He said it was getting in the way of my work and that because I’m entitled to a lunch break (1 hr, unpaid) I was taking the biscuit. I explained in my risk assessment and in the HR handbooks nothing is mentioned about this and this is irrelevant as I am a pregnant woman and needing the toilet is very normal and a basic human right. Has anyone else experienced this or is he picking faults because he doesn’t know any better?

[Kate91]

Personally i think he is out of line, but i would suggest speaking to citizens advice about it, they will be able to tell you where you legally stand.

[Amreenak in reply to Kate91]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one that thinks it is, I firstly thought I was being overly sensitive. I emailed my HR and within the hour received a email to arrange a face to face meeting.

I think the only reason my HR response was so quick was due to the fact I used “discrimination”

I will call citizens advice and see what they say x

[Sisi14 in reply to Amreenak]

It’s appalling how you were called to speak to management regarding your frequent toilet breaks , I would definitely carry out seeing citizens advice as woman said above and meet with HR and if you can take someone in to witness it too . Obviously HR no that’s not right as it’s discrimination! Hope all goes well lovely xx

[Amreenak in reply to Sisi14]

Thank you, I’ve written a few notes and looked through all my company policies. I have concluded he’s just being unreasonable and there’s definitely a case for discrimination x

[Sisi14 in reply to Amreenak]

Ok Hunni well your doing the right thing , hope all is resolved soon ! Xx

[Hidden]

I mean what can you do wet yourself? Got to be allowed to go to the toilet.

[Claire2225]

It’s a joke he’s an idiot 😡 if you google maternity action it gives you all your rights in the work place and a contact number to speak to them etc x

[Amreenak in reply to Claire2225]

Thank you Hun, I have read through maternity actions it was very useful x

[MeganMum]

I agree - that doesn’t sound appropriate! I’d contact ACAS, they’re ace for all employment/employment law stuff.

“Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law.”

Whilst I didn’t have the same issue as you with my employer, ACAS were excellent, they helped me to understand where I stood and what I could do/say.

[Hidden]

Just read this to my partner as I thought it was pretty horrible, and he asked what kind of work you do and whether the toilet breaks and extra snack break are in your risk assessment? Because if they are then your manager is out of line. If not then you should ask for it to be put in. Going to the toilet is a basic human right and they can't discriminate against you because you need to go more often than other people, and they have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments for you. However, those adjustments must be practicable for the employer as well, so if it's impacting on their business outputs and they can't make an adjustment that suits both of you and reduces the risk, then they have the right to find you alternative work or suspend you on full pay.

[Amreenak in reply to Hidden]

I work in retail chick x

[Cpr2018]

Join a union!!!

[Hopful85]

As a pregnant woman your entitled to use the toilet and much as you need and take as many breaks as you need period! I exercised all my rights at work when I needed too.

[Amreenak in reply to Hopful85]

It’s very clear in my risk assessment that I am entitled to toilet/water/snack breaks I think he needs to read through it himself to understand what I can and can’t do. I’m just seething at the thought of seeing him tomorrow at work. 😐

[Hopful85 in reply to Amreenak]

Yes I bet you are. He clearly doesn’t understand your rights does he have children himself? My boss is a man but very understanding as he has a wife and child. Who did your risk assessment? It should be shared with him at least. Also he should realise if your stressed about this you could be off work with it and there’s also nothing he can do. My boss was very careful to not stress me out because of this.

[Amreenak in reply to Hopful85]

By the sounds of it you had a lovely boss, mine doesn’t have kids nor does he want them. I guess I will have to see how my meeting goes with HR tomorrow x

[Hopful85 in reply to Amreenak]

You’ll be fine hun the law is the law whether he likes it or not. It’s hard but don’t let him ruin your pregnancy at work xx

[Hopeful1982]

This is ridiculous and to be quite frank discriminatory behaviour. Your boss is wrong. You should make a note of the conversation (and any others). Have you had a pregnancy risk assessment carried out at work? If not you should request one. Just ask either your boss or HR (nicely) when it will be done. Mine specifically mentioned increased toilet trips as something that may need to be accommodated. Also, snacks are important particularly if you are feeling ill or just more hungry since you are growing a human!

If your bosses behaviour continues you may need to speak to HR and potentially raise a grievance. If it gets to this stage it would be helpful to have a written record of any conversations or comments your boss has made which are related to your pregnancy.

Hope this helps!

[Georgina_D]

Does he know you are pregnant? I wouldn't go to HR or take legal action yet. I would politely tell him that I'm pregnant and pregnancy hormones make me need to wee more and baby is sitting on bladder.

If he is nasty or threatens disciplinary action then go to HR. Not worth ruining relationships due to misunderstanding.

Also please don't take the mic. Only go wee wee if you actually need to. It's hard enough for women in the workplace thanks to a small number of woman who take the mic x

[Amreenak in reply to Georgina_D]

He was the first to know I’m pregnant due to lifting and handling heavy deliveries (retail work) and my female manager conducted my risk assessment.

He was really rude, argumentative and bitchy to me and wasn’t looking to solve anything. Instead he went over and over why we're sat here discussing the situation.

As I left the room to grab my things and go home I also heard him bitching with another male manager of mine and calling me a few explicit names.

I don’t take the mic because I don’t see the need to, I’m very hard working and give 100% when I’m doing my job. X

[Amreenak]

****UPDATE****

Hey guys here’s a quick little update,

After airing my concerns to HR who at this point was well aware of the situation due to my manager calling her telling her what had happened. he has new. Removed from my store and in to another store.

Thanks for all your advice guys❤️

[Claire2225 in reply to Amreenak]

Brilliant news xxx