No breaks/lunches/bathroom breaks

Post Reply New Topic

My job requires someone to be on the job at all times. Well, on Sundays and Mondays there are two people, one goes to break/lunch the other covers. That person called out, and my manager didn’t care to find anyone else to cover, just let me know and left for the day. I haven’t been able to take a break/lunch or use the bathroom for 10 hours. I’ve almost had a meltdown because of this today.

That's illegal. All workers are required a bathroom break or food/drink break. Not being able to do so can cause emotional and physical health problems.

Offer to pee in a bottle in front of the customers.

That outta do the trick.

Depends on where you live. In my state, in the US, this is not a legal requirement but depends on company policy.

I had a similar situation in work a few years ago. I was expected to work 13 hour days, 7 days a week for several week with not a single break as a fire watcher.

After about 3 days I left my post, along with other fire watchers who had a guts full to fiddle around on my phone all day and talk in a little corner that was hidden away. Good job there wasn't a fire as everyone would be dead.

I would just go and have a break if I was you or perhaps get another job if possible. If you do find another job make sure to toss it off and mess everything up before you go.

You should always be allowed a bathroom break. Holding in poop or pee (an essential bodily function) for hours can cause health problems such as bladder infections or constipation. When I got to go number 2 I got to go.

Not a good idea to burn one's bridges with former employers if one's can possibly avoid doing so. Former employers are needed as references. (At least that's true here in the U.S.A., not sure about other countries.)

This is illegal. But at the same time, if you bring it up to your employer, they could reprimand you, fire you or cut your hours.

Update your resume. Look for other jobs. This is an employees market right now. A lot of companies are understaffed and want to just hire someone right away.

I worked independently at a gas station for a little over a year. Shift changes would occur after 8 or 9 hours. Noone ever told me that I couldn't eat, or go to the washroom or go for a smoke outside. However, it was understood that if a customer walked inside the store during eating or having a smoke, you would have to stop and deal with the customer. Bathroom break meant locking the door and putting up a sign. I ran the risk of losing a customer because of a bathroom break, but no employer was ever going to complain about that to me.

In some US states, that's illegal to deny breaks, especially bathroom breaks.