TUC campaign — Give us a (Loo) Break

In March 2010, the TUC launched a campaign for a change in the law to prevent employers being able to penalise staff for using the toilet in work time. Its Give us a (Loo) Break report provides examples of staff having to put their hands up to use the toilet, record the number of times they go to the toilet each day or travel a long way for access to a toilet. Give us a (Loo) Break calls for:

• HSE and local authority inspectors to ensure employers are complying with their obligations under UK safety laws by providing suitable, sufficient and accessible toilets and washing facilities that are clean, well ventilated, lit and stocked with soap and towels; and

• a change in the law so that employees can go to the toilet whenever they need to, in work rather than their own time, so long as they are not endangering the safety of their colleagues.

Give Us a (Loo) Break is available at: http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/guides-and-reports-reps/workplace-health-safety-and-welfare/give.

Public services union UNISON has warned that council cuts to public conveniences are leaving workers with no place to go to the toilet. It says workers suffering from too few loos include paramedics, transport workers, police community support officers, postal workers and bin men, who spend their working day out and about. The union is calling for free, convenient and safe access to toilets for both those inside a workplace and those who are mobile. It says the situation has been worsened significantly by government cuts.