Stores With "No Public Bathroom"

[Ceila]

Postal workers and Bathrooms? Oh, OP, I am cringing for you right now.

Must. Not. Say. Anything.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Keep a potty in the car in case the kids have to go. That's what I've always done. The stores around here don't have public bathrooms in general and sometimes kids just have to go. I can understand a store not letting people into the employee-only areas to go the bathroom. That would seem to be a risk for theft and maybe also liability.

 

[anniemae]

Most small places do not have public bathrooms.

I see no issue with her picking up a few things for her break, sheesh people. Seriously it is not like she is doing a huge shopping trip at the mall trying on clothes, then kicking back sipping a cappuccino and such. Picking up some snacks and water? Totally fine. What will it delay her, maybe 3 minutes?

Anyway, about the bathroom, I totally agree with the clerk. It sounds like you thought he should let her use the bathroom regardless of the store policy. He was probably following the rules as he was trained to, totally understandable. He may have lost his job if he let her use the bathroom. As others have said it is probably a liability, insurance, privacy, store policy thing. One can't "bend the rules" for certain people. Where would it end? First the mail carrier, then the delivery drivers, then the UPS/FED EX workers, then the moms with kids, then you have a public restroom.

 

[Tiffylv]

I think it's their store, their rules. It may not even be possible to allow for a public restroom depending on where the restroom is. Usually the type of stores I've seen with no bathroom are little mom and pop or boutique stores that aren't really set up for that. I can understand the vets office not having one, but the gas station is a little odd to me.

To be fair, a few times I have had stores with no public restroom allow my young son to use the restroom at times when he clearly really had to go. I know it's happened more than once but one particular time that comes to mind, we were at an outdoor mall, in a store, when my son announced he had to go and couldn't wait. I asked if the store had a restroom and the woman said no, I'd have to take him to the public restrooms. He immediately started to cry that he couldn't wait. I was asking the cashier if I could leave my things at the register and for directions to the bathroom when the manager stepped up and said they were way at the other end of the mall and he could just use the employee bathroom. It did involve walking through a bunch of inventory, and the manager did walk us back there but I was very thankful!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work at a school. Our regular mail carrier usually drops the mail in the office, and then comes back to the staff room to use the restroom. It's definitely not a public restroom. It's supposed to be for staff only. However, we consider this woman to be like staff. She's on the job when she comes in. Sometimes she stops to chat for a second with whomever is in the staff room at the time. If we have a box of donuts or bagels on the counter, we always offer her one. She usually says no thanks, but we still offer just in case she's hungry. This woman works very hard. She's always moving quickly to stay on her schedule. Sometimes she lugs in big boxes of supplies or other things the school has ordered. There's no way we would deny her use of the staff restroom. I can see a small store not having a public restroom. But if it's a mail carrier or other person who regularly comes in during the course of their job, I would allow them to use it.

 

[SMD]

Why not? We are entitled to Two 10 minute breaks and 30 minutes for lunch and a 10 minute wash up.

Is the 10 minutes to wash up something allowed for postal workers? In CA it's completely legal for employers to require you to conduct personal business including bathroom breaks in your 2 10 minute and 1 30 minute break. It might seem petty, but once employees start doing things like going to the bathroom immediately after their 30 minute lunch is over or making coffee early so they can have it on their upcoming 10 minute break, productivity really drops.

 

[Mkrop]

although I do have to say I am surprised that she doesnt have her normal places to use staked out...like I said DH is in sales and when he is on a ride he does frequently he knows exactly where to stop

 

[slo]

Keep a potty in the car in case the kids have to go. That's what I've always done. The stores around here don't have public bathrooms in general and sometimes kids just have to go. I can understand a store not letting people into the employee-only areas to go the bathroom. That would seem to be a risk for theft and maybe also liability.

LOL!! I thought I was the only person that did this.
I have the most awesome portable toilet that I bought from Babies R Us 14 years ago, and I used the heck out of it.
It came in so handy when we went to carnivals, parades, and anywhere that people use port-a-potties (I hated putting my 3-5 year olds on those things)
It also came in handy when we'd be out running errands, and had no bathroom.
I loved it so much that I saved it so I can use it when I have grandkids (I've never seen another thing like it).
It was one of the best $25 I ever spent

 

[Iowajes]

I worked in a small store with a teeny tiny employee restroom. We kept hazardous chemicals in the bathroom. We couldn't allow people in it for liability reasons.

 

[MIGrandma]

although I do have to say I am surprised that she doesnt have her normal places to use staked out...like I said DH is in sales and when he is on a ride he does frequently he knows exactly where to stop

Like I said, she is a "rural" mail delivery person. She delivers mail out in the country areas. There are very, very few places of business on any of her routes (she's a substitute and works in many different towns in our area, plus works in the post offices as well) and she probably wouldn't knock on someone's door, that she is delivering mail to, to ask if she can use their bathroom.

 

[wenrob]

My daughter-in-law is a postal worker, delivering mail in the rural area. There is a party/convenience type store on one of her regular routes where she delivers their mail. She gets out of her car and takes it in and gives it to the person manning the cash register. Occasionally she'll make a purchase (bottle of water, something for her lunch, etc.) there. Recently she had delivered their mail, picked up a couple things to purchase and put them down on the counter and then asked if she could please use the restroom while she was there. The clerk said no, "no public bathroom." Really? She delivers your mail and you refuse her the use of your restroom? She walked out without making her purchase and hasn't purchased anything there since.

The other day I was at the vet's office with my cat. Noticed a new sign on the door "no public bathroom." There was a woman waiting, with her dog, and two small children (maybe 2-3 years old). What if one of the children needed to use the restroom? Small children like that can't "hold it" for very long. Would the staff tell her no?

So, my question is, do you think small stores, places of business, etc. should be able to tell paying customers that they can't use their restroom? I think a paying customer should be allowed to use it.

All restaurants have public restrooms, large department stores have them, stores in malls have them, even the library and grocery stores have them. What makes smaller stores so different that they feel they can refuse their bathroom to their paying customers?

I have not read the thread but I'll give you my experience. I worked in a small bookstore that was in a back room. We were explicitly told not to allow anyone back there. Reason #1, I could've been fired. Reason #2, there was merchandise back there. You would not believe the amount of regular paying customers who would rip you off. Reason #3, it's dangerous to have someone back there. Sometimes for them (merchandise totes fell regularly and they were HEAVY) and mostly for a clerk who is running the place by themselves. Someone comes in, asks to use the restroom and you get busy with other customers forgetting they're back there. At this same store I was assaulted and stabbed while working by myself. The guy kept asking me to use the restroom and otherwise get me to go toward the back room. My spidey senses told me not to let him. He still got me but at the front door, open to the parking lot where there were people and I could scream bloody murder. I'm convinced to this day that had I let him use the restroom I'd be dead. And yeah, this guy had been a regular paying customer.

 

[jodifla]

I expect any place that wants me be to be there quite awhile to have a bathroom accessible to the public. So any big store or grocery store. Smaller stores, not so much. In some states, if you serve food, you must provide public bathroom access.

 

[Hrhpd]

Like I said, she is a "rural" mail delivery person. She delivers mail out in the country areas. There are very, very few places of business on any of her routes (she's a substitute and works in many different towns in our area, plus works in the post offices as well) and she probably wouldn't knock on someone's door, that she is delivering mail to, to ask if she can use their bathroom.

I am confused. In your OP, you said this is a regular route for her. So, she should be familiar with it enough that she should know the public bathroom places.

My daughter-in-law is a postal worker, delivering mail in the rural area. There is a party/convenience type store on one of her regular routes where she delivers their mail. She gets out of her car and takes it in and gives it to the person manning the cash register. Occasionally she'll make a purchase (bottle of water, something for her lunch, etc.) there. Recently she had delivered their mail, picked up a couple things to purchase and put them down on the counter and then asked if she could please use the restroom while she was there. The clerk said no, "no public bathroom." Really? She delivers your mail and you refuse her the use of your restroom? She walked out without making her purchase and hasn't purchased anything there since.

What do the other delivery people do? They must have plans in place for bathroom breaks. If she is a sub, it might make sense for her to start asking the regulars and assembling a list of public bathrooms on the different routes so she can be prepared.

I find it very, very strange that a mail person would knock on a private house door to use the bathroom. There is absolutely NO WAY I would let some stranger in, even in a postal uniform, to use the bathroom. There are way too many scammers out there who could go buy a postal uniform on ebay. Just recently we had a group of people dressed in Century Link uniforms going door to door in our neighborhood pretending to sell services. They were actually a band of thieves scoping out potential targets. One way to get in the house was to ask for a drink of water or use the bathroom.

I still don't see why a delivery person would feel that just because they were doing the job they are being paid for (delivering the mail) that they would be entitled to special privileges or that a company should break their rules for them. You say in your OP "Really, she delivers your mail and you refuse the use of your restroom" It is not like she is doing the store a favor by delivering the mail, she is doing a paid job. Yes, it can be a hard job and one that is appreciated, but it is a job just like the cashier's job at the store. Why would she expect special treatment?

 

[luvsJack]

The only places around here that don't have a restroom are the tiny little one room stores.

There is a locally owned grocery store that has a restroom in the back and uses you walk by stock and cleaning supplirs and its not the cleanest but they let customers use it.

I can see not letting everyone but it does seem that a mail carrier or delivery person would be seen a little differently.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

although I do have to say I am surprised that she doesnt have her normal places to use staked out...like I said DH is in sales and when he is on a ride he does frequently he knows exactly where to stop

Agreed!

When I was a visiting nurse, I knew every bathroom in every town I visited.

 

[disney1990]

I worked in a Hallmark store in a shopping center. Our back room was crowded & not safe to have customers walk through. Employees had to store their personal items (purses, etc. ) in our small bathroom. No way we could allow customers to use it.

 

[low-key]

I am a man, the world is my toilet

 

[Wendy31]

Keep a potty in the car in case the kids have to go. That's what I've always done. The stores around here don't have public bathrooms in general and sometimes kids just have to go. I can understand a store not letting people into the employee-only areas to go the bathroom. That would seem to be a risk for theft and maybe also liability.

LOL!! I thought I was the only person that did this.
I have the most awesome portable toilet that I bought from Babies R Us 14 years ago, and I used the heck out of it.
It came in so handy when we went to carnivals, parades, and anywhere that people use port-a-potties (I hated putting my 3-5 year olds on those things)
It also came in handy when we'd be out running errands, and had no bathroom.
I loved it so much that I saved it so I can use it when I have grandkids (I've never seen another thing like it).
It was one of the best $25 I ever spent

Haha!! I always kept a potty in my van for the kids when they were little too! Actually, I much preferred them using their potty chair than I did a yucky public restroom. It was wonderful when we went on road trips!

In all my years & in all the times I've been out & about, I've never asked to use a non-public restroom, nor have I ever asked for my children. If I or one of my kids needs to use a restroom, I find a public restroom.

So, regarding the original post, no, I don't think a mail person (or any person) should expect to be able to use a restroom if it's not for public use.

I'm sure there's a fast food restaurant or gas station on your DIL's route that she can use.

 

[declansdad]

Like I said, she is a "rural" mail delivery person. She delivers mail out in the country areas. There are very, very few places of business on any of her routes (she's a substitute and works in many different towns in our area, plus works in the post offices as well) and she probably wouldn't knock on someone's door, that she is delivering mail to, to ask if she can use their bathroom.

So why do you think it is ok to do this at a private business?

 

[Colleen27]

I understand it completely when it comes to small shops. Customers aren't there long, and it isn't unreasonable to think they can manage a quick stop without needing to use the bathroom. So the restroom in places like that usually isn't in an area accessible to the public and making exceptions to a "no public restroom" policy opens the door to all sorts of problems, from the expectation of more exceptions to potential theft or liability as a consequence of having a non-employee in an employee-only area.

The vet not having a restroom would bother me more because that's a place where customers often find themselves spending a fair bit of time, though my first thought is it might be posted because of people coming in just for the restroom. The pediatrician my kids go to is right on a major walking/biking path in our area and they went to a "get the key from the desk" policy for the bathroom because people were treating it like a rest stop. Patients and their families can still use the bathroom but posting "no public restroom" and keeping it locked ended the random drop-ins in a hurry. The vet's office could be dealing with a similar issue or might simply want to make sure that if those kids do go to the restroom, they have a parent accompanying them so that they don't stop to pet someone else's sick/injured animal on the way and maybe get bit.