Stores With "No Public Bathroom"

[kaytieeldr]

A bank or type of business that you go in for 5 minutes is not the same thing. Although I have witnessed a loan officer come out of their office and escort a distressed mom and dancing kid to the restroom

A bank or other type of business that you go into for five minutes is exactly the same thing as a convenience store [that you go into for five minutes]. Reminder that this thread started because that type of store refused to let a customer use a non-public restroom.

Why on earth would they choose a child vomitting all over the floor than letting them use the bathroom, or peeing or pooping?

Why on earth would a parent with an imminently bawooshing child not demonstrate simple common sense by removing that child from that venue?

 

[Brenda Kim]

I worked at a local gas station that had no public restrooms. We used to let people use it, but you had to go through the managers office to get to it and after things were stolen from the managers office, we closed the restroom to everyone. Everything we did was under surveillance and if I let someone back there during my shift I could be fired. I got cursed out on a regular basis for not letting anyone use the bathroom. I even had one woman pee on the floor mat by the door. I did work third shift and the woman was intoxicated, but still that was a sight to see. Also when we used to let customer back there they did not have any respect; I have had to clean out all sorts of substances that come out of a human body. It was super gross.

There is a reason why customers are not allowed to use the private bathroom because they are through back rooms that have merchandise and other things very easy to steal and it is the bad apples that ruin it for everyone.

The good news is that if you don't like it, you don't have to shop there.

 

[Kbee]

How on earth did humanity survive without government safety regulations, liability concerns, and store policies that limited uses of bathrooms?

Oh, people used common sense and extended grace when asked to use bathroom facilities.

Moot point, those things do exist now, and matter.

 

[aaarcher86]

How on earth did humanity survive without government safety regulations, liability concerns, and store policies that limited uses of bathrooms?

Oh, people used common sense and extended grace when asked to use bathroom facilities.

Or graciously accepted the answer of 'no' and moved on.

 

[aaarcher86]

Moot point, those things do exist now, and matter.

 

[nugov2]

 

[mjkacmom]

gosh we are up to 12 pages now... what an achievement



cos you know they are special

And if you say, oh no I wouldn't sue, you are just lying because I can guarantee that if you or your child were injured you would most defiantly sue

No, I would not sue - wouldn't even cross my mind. My dd slipped on water in a tiled area of Embassy Suites (kids were using the pool, and going back and forth to the food area - my dd was not swimming). They were very sorry (and brought out a yellow caution sign), my dd was taken to the hospital for stitches. We gladly accepted some free room service. I'm not suing over some stitches.

And I would never use COS instead of because, or bully anyone to use the bathroom. I can see the difference between asking nicely (which I'm assuming the OP's DIL did), and demanding. Unfortunately, many on the DIS can't. Fortunately, my minimum wage days of retail are long over.

 

[BadPinkTink]

And I would never use COS instead of because,.

ooops my bad, cos , u no, I use txt speak... oh well don't mind me, I'm just used to speaking in 140 characters in my JOB managing social media accounts for companies, but go ahead look down on my grammar....

 

[Skywalker]

Just because someone has opened the doors of their private business to conduct that business, does not mean they suddenly have to make their washroom public. Their store, their rules. I can't believe someone thinks its some kind of human right to use someone else's bathroom. I knew a lady that ran a convenience store and she lived upstairs and there was ONE washroom, so if you used it you would be using her private washroom. This falls into the category of "poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

 

[luvsJack]

But it kinda is the issue. People are saying in some instances they or their child can't possibly hold it any longer and must use it now. If that is the case then should they expect to use an off limits washroom vs the further one and be upset if denied? How does the person telling the clerk their potty dancing child is going to go all over the floor could be right next to a store that will allow it , but people are saying a employee should ignore store policy in emergency situations, but should other place be obligated to do the same if they offer public ones further away, even if that results in an accident for child or adult? Again, I think that some places don't encourage the use of public bathrooms and those store most likely bend in a true emergency, but other places have strict policies in place for valid reasons and shouldn't be cast as the villains because of it.

I said its not an issue HERE. And this thread is about a store in a rural area. If you have ever been in a rural area you would no there likely is not another bathroom further away.

If I am in the mall, I know which stores have restrooms and where the mall restrooms are. I wouldn't ask the little jewelry storw but would go to sears or wherever the closest one is. At Disney, I know where the restrooms are and will head to the closest one, not ask the CM by the cm only door.

But in a rural store, there may not be another store for a few miles. Or I know close to here there are three little stores grouped together and nothing else nearby. That is a whole diferent situation than a place where you can run next door.

Those places that discourage the use are just as liable for customers going in a stock room as those that say no.

As a customer I don't have a clue whose policies says what but

So, let me see if I am reading you right.

Your children are so special that you absolutely expect that rules should be broken for them.

You know better than the store's lawyers, insurance agencies and even possibly gov't safety regulations that the store is just using an excuse when they deny your children access to their off limits bathroom. They should not listen to their lawyers, insurance agents and possible gov't safety regulations, because under all circumstances, if your child is doing the pee-pee dance, they should make an exception to a rule they have in place. It is your child after all and you know they are just making excuses when they say no.

You expect a poor clerk to recognize how special your children are and go against the rules of his job, to ignore the lawyers, insurance agents, and safety regulations and make an exception for your children. And if a clerk does not risk their job by making an exception to the rules for your children, then they were a worthless employee anyway and the boss was looking for a way to fire them.

And if a clerk does not put their job at risk and make an exception (because you know the rules are meant to be broken for your children,) and your child does have an accident, you will be indignant and not help clean up the mess your child made.

Oh, come on. I was talking about a small rural store. I seriously doubt they have had lawyers talking about bathroom facilities. Why would one rule apply for one business and another for another business if their employee restrooms are the same?

I never said my child was special. I never said it should be only for my child.

All I am saying is child or adult that has a sudden bathroom emergency should receive some compassion and be allowed to use the facilities. Not saying every child that comes through, not saying every time they are asked. Saying that if a child or adult is obviously in distress, the employee should be able to use a reasonable amount of common sense to decide to make that one exception.

It has nothing to do with anyone being special.

Gee Whiz, I am so glad to live in an area where people have compassion and can see gray areas in every black and white rule.

 

[luvsJack]

And looks like some don't understand the concept of "No Public Restroom" as well.

When I worked retail there was no way I would have let a child with an emergency back into our restroom. It was a stockroom, there were cleaning supplies and tools in our bathroom. Not to mention that the adult would have to be there also, makes two unauthorized people back there. I was not going to risk my job because some parent thought they'd tough arm their way into the bathroom with the threat of going on the floor in the store. And yes, luvsjack some companies take their liability issues very seriously. I guess that is another concept you don't quite understand.

Yes, darlin' I do understand it well. I also understand empathy and compassion. And I understand that every black and white policy/rule has gray areas. I don't need something written word for word to be able to understand when circumstances call for an exception.

Must be hard living in that "a rule is a rule that must be followed at all costs" world.

Yes I realize that businesses take liability issues seriously. Most have enough sense to also take customer services and the need for repeat business seriously, especially a rural business. My parents ran a small rural grocery store and two restaurants until retirement. My mother and I also ran a daycare. And we were able to do all of those things WHILE making sure we were not sued AND we were able to show compassion to our customers when needed. Neat concept, compassion. It keeps the business growing.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Compassion goes both ways. Understanding goes both ways. How about showing some for that employee that has been TOLD by his/her boss that ....wait for it....the Black and White Rule, no gray area is NO Public access to a restroom. An employee most certainly can lose their job for disrespecting and disobeying the boss to make an exception to the boss made rule. This is not a difficult to comprehend statement.

 

[luvsJack]

Compassion goes both ways. Understanding goes both ways. How about showing some for that employee that has been TOLD by his/her boss that ....wait for it....the Black and White Rule, no gray area is NO Public access to a restroom. An employee most certainly can lose their job for disrespecting and disobeying the boss to make an exception to the boss made rule. This is not a difficult to comprehend statement.

Never said anything about not showing compassion for the employee. Other than the throwing the cleaning supplies back at them, which I would be more likely to HAND them back to them. (didn't intend on it being taken quite so literally)

 

[kaytieeldr]

I said its not an issue HERE. And this thread is about a store in a rural area. If you have ever been in a rural area you would no there likely is not another bathroom further away.

Then you go where there's a bathroom. That could be the restaurant 5-6 miles away, or back to your employer's facility, or even home.

Oh, come on. I was talking about a small rural store. I seriously doubt they have had lawyers talking about bathroom facilities. Why would one rule apply for one business and another for another business if their employee restrooms are the same?

They have at least a lawyer. While the lawyer may not talk specifically about restroom access, you can be damn sure they talk about liability. So does the insurance agent.
Different businesses have different rules. Why would the rules for two different businesses, even with identical floor plans, be even similar?

An employee most certainly can lose their job for disrespecting and disobeying the boss to make an exception to the boss made rule.

Even with the employer not wanting to get rid of the employee/looking for an excuse. Create a firable offense, get fired.

 

[Skywalker]

All I am saying is child or adult that has a sudden bathroom emergency should receive some compassion and be allowed to use the facilities. Not saying every child that comes through, not saying every time they are asked. Saying that if a child or adult is obviously in distress, the employee should be able to use a reasonable amount of common sense to decide to make that one exception.

I disagree, the rules have to be the same for everyone. No picking and choosing who they allow. Otherwise in this day and age they would probably be opening themselves up to some sort of discrimination law suit or something.

Geez what if you are in a residential neighbourhood when your kid has to uncontrollably pee? Expect to be allowed to barge into the nearest house?

 

[Jennasis]

I wonder...how would you feel if your child's potty emergency, and resulting rule breaking by employee, wound up with a terminated employee?

 

[Kbee]

Must be hard living in that "a rule is a rule that must be followed at all costs" world.

Actually its only hard for those who feel the rules shouldn't apply to them, who feel they should have special treatment.
For the rest of us it's pretty darn easy....... Darlin'

 

[luvsJack]

Then you go where there's a bathroom. That could be the restaurant 5-6 miles away, or back to your employer's facility, or even home.

They have at least a lawyer. While the lawyer may not talk specifically about restroom access, you can be damn sure they talk about liability. So does the insurance agent.
Different businesses have different rules. Why would the rules for two different businesses, even with identical floor plans, be even similar?

Even with the employer not wanting to get rid of the employee/looking for an excuse. Create a firable offense, get fired.

My family had/has a lawyer when dealing with the businesses my parents owned and my grandparents before them. They discussed a lot of things, I am sure, but bathrooms were not one of them. He didn't spend his time warning them off of all the ways to be sued, but he was there if they had a question or if they needed representation. They never needed him. The insurance agent sold them insurance. It stated how much it would cover in the event of someone being hurt on property or suing for injury. Didn't matter the injury, they didn't come out and look at the place. Same way when we had the daycare, no agent every came out and looked at anything.

Why wouldn't they be similar? The liabilities of a store allowing someone to walk through a stock room with stock stored along with cleaning supplies and heavy boxes stacked are going to be the same. Why wouldn't they be.

You are going to keep pretending that in every situation on the planet earth a person can just run 5-6 miles away to another business. That no one every has had an urgent enough emergency to not allow for that. But whatever.

 

[Kbee]

Look I don't care what you love, I know what I would do in that situation. When I was an asst. manager in retail my job would have been on the line for letting someone use the bathroom. It wouldn't matter that it was an "emergency" or not. And that is in quotes because its hardly life threatening. You may be embarrassed if you let go in your pants, but you aren't going to die so its not really an emergency. Besides, if you have issues where when you have to go, you have to go they make Depends for that. Maybe you should depend on those, and not depend on other's to make special exceptions for you at the risk of their job.
So um yes I would expect someone to follow the rules of their job. That matters more than your sense of entitlement.

I guess we know who all the special snowflakes are though.

 

[luvsJack]

Actually its only hard for those who feel the rules shouldn't apply to them, who feel they should have special treatment.
For the rest of us it's pretty darn easy....... Darlin'

Rules do apply to everyone, never said they didn't. Exceptions to rules do not equal the rules not applying to someone.