A call centre worker in Brigend, UK had his pay docked because of toilet breaks. And some Members of Parliament say his employer is breaking the law.
When Brigend MP Madeline Moon investigated she found that the worker had received notice of a 50 pound pay deduction via a text message and got no explanation until he inquired about the reason. Moon also learned that the company made no bones about its “ad hoc deductions for breaks away from the work station,” which Moon calls a toilet tax.
Although Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson says she supports workers’ rights to rest breaks, she did not come right out and say it was illegal to dock their pay. Instead she equivocated that any deductions should be “very clearly outlined” and referred workers to a Pay and Work Rights Helpline.
However, the Trade Union Congress says the law should clearly forbid pay deductions for toilet breaks. Tell Parliament that workers have a right to toilet breaks, and you agree that any "toilet tax" should be banned.
We, the undersigned, agree with UK’s TUC that docking pay for toilet breaks should be unlawful.
Not only does common sense say this toilet taxing of workers is unreasonable, it’s also unhealthy. A further investigation of the call centre that docked a worker 50 pounds for toilet breaks found that the centre encouraged workers to drink plenty of water to help them to a better job speaking on the phone.
In a report by the BBC, MP Moon noted that "It appears that call centre staff, while provided with copious amounts of water to keep their voices lubricated, are also then fined for going to the toilet.”
Although some Members of Parliament didn’t see this issue as one widespread enough to debate on the House floor, the BBC has reported several other incidents where workers were either docked for toilet breaks or not allowed to even take the breaks when needed. The TUC calls it employee harassment.
After reviewing currents laws, the TUC found the law does not now specifically protect any worker’s right to toilet breaks, and therefore the law needs to be changed to ensure they have a legal right to go to the toilet during working hours without losing pay.
We agree with TUC and request that this issue at least be debated. We also request that the Health and Safety Executive support this stand and workers' rights to all restroom privileges.
Thanks for your time.
