This is my first post, so forgive me if there is a different forum that would be more appropriate for this thread.

I sought a veg forum so that I could talk about food and life and mainly discuss issues that arise from our lifestyles, and this is the first one I want to get some advice on.

I am a cashier in a cafe, and I am not allowed to leave the register except during the two hour break between three hour shifts. This does not allow me to drink enough water, as when I do drink 60 to 70 ounces throughout the day, I have to pee about every 45 minutes. The few times I have left the register against the manager's will to go to the bathroom, I have been threatened and reprimanded.

In addition, my manager has lately been making me take my break VERY early in the day, like two hours after I arrive, which leaves me without eating for 7 hours the rest of the day. I am not allowed another break or to eat at my register. Sorry, but my body just can't do that, and the granola bars I've been trying to keep my blood sugar up with have not been cutting it lately.

This is just a temporary job, but I don't want my health to falter even if it's just a few months. Any advice? What to change about my eating habits? What to say to the manager? A creative sneaky snack idea?

Thanks.

Hmmm... there should be some kind of workplace conditions agreement that covers this. I know where I live this kind of treatment is illegal. Whereabouts are you?

i would probably report your manager. is the cafe an independent restaurant or part of a chain?

Hey, I know in Texas the law says you get a 15 minute break every 4 hours on an 8-hour shift. That is the law. Also, if you have to pee, they have to let you. Some women sued a large factory at which they worked on the line, and the bosses wou;dnt' let them leave the line to go pee (some of them had "accidents"! How embarassing!!). They won the lawsuit. I saw it on the news.

I believe the law in the US is that if you're on an 8 hr shift, you have to get a 15 minute break every 2 hrs and a 30 min break after 4 hrs.

Yeah your workplace is in violation of us labor laws, you might want to mention that and sue the crap out of them if they try to fire you for peeing.

I would report them as well. When I had my first job at Wendy's they refused to let people call in sick or leave and they were vomiting in the trashcan beside the grill. I was happy I am veggie that day.

there should be a federal job law guidelines poster posted SOMEWHERE in your place of work where ALL employees can see it WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK. IE: it should be in the breakroom, by the time clock, NOT IN A DRAWER OR LOCKED OFFICE. there is a phone number on it to call if your employer is violating any local, state, or federal work laws and your employer CANNOT take any action AT ALL against you for reporting them for unhealthy working conditions.

find the poster. call the number. please pleaase please work on finding a new job, even as you are reporting your employer..

Yup. Not allowing an employee to use the bathroom = very illegal.

I would report them as well. When I had my first job at Wendy's they refused to let people call in sick or leave and they were vomiting in the trashcan beside the grill. I was happy I am veggie that day.

Local jurisdictions vary but federal health codes state that anyone with gastrointestinal problems (throwing up, diarrhea, etc.) can't work around food and in some cases it has to be reported to the local health department to prevent food borne illness outbreaks. Thats like illegal X 1000

I don't know, I don't think the laws in most states are quite as strict as that.
http://www.ewin.com/articles/restper.htm
According to this, US federal law does not require employers to give breaks.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm

Now, if you have a health disability which requires frequent bathroom breaks, then you have a different situation. My advice would be that if you need to go to the bathroom that frequently, either you have a health condition like diabetes, or really don't need to be drinking quite so much water.

General rule of thumb is (despite all the people who push drinking gallons of water per day) if your pee is pale in color, you are getting enough. I think the whole drink water constantly thing is really blown out of proportion. As a waitress I worked 10 hour shifts with maybe one bathroon break quite frequently. It comes with the territory in service and other busy and low-paying jobs.

ETA- I did read that OSHA has federal regulations requiring reasonable access to bathroom facilities.

Local jurisdictions vary but federal health codes state that anyone with gastrointestinal problems (throwing up, diarrhea, etc.) can't work around food and in some cases it has to be reported to the local health department to prevent food borne illness outbreaks. Thats like illegal X 1000
I did report them for it... They made the mistake of not letting me off work when my brother was murdered/I was in a 4 car pile up on the way to his funeral/had a miscarriage from the wreck and made me mad so I reported them but then again I was not in a very happy mood from having a miscarriage in the first place either.

LittleMistWeave, wow, that's an insane amount of horrible things to go through. I really, really, really hope you have recovered or are recovering well.

Thalia, it's not really EVERY 45 minutes, I should have clarified. When I drink a significant amount of water, like 8 or more ounces, the time it takes to pass through my body is always, always 30 to 45 minutes. If I drink no water at all, I don't have to pee. If I drink just a little, just a little is how much I pee. But even if it's a little, I still have to pee 30 to 45 minutes after I drink. And the amount of water I drink is healthy. I'm not really super thirsty all the time, I just choose to drink that much because it makes me feel better. It's a habit and I think it's a good habit. I don't care about anyone else's opinions on my health and habits except mine and my doctor's, I'm not trying to do something I read in a magazine. I drink about 64 ounces a day, which according to my weight, is the recommended amount. Choosing to drink that amount, though, just happens to make me need to pee. I understand that as a lowly employee in food service, my surroundings might not be as ideal as I'd like them, but I guess that's why I'm making this post. For advice.

Everyone, thank you very much for your help! I am only planning on working here for another 2, maybe 3 months, so that I can make enough money to finish paying for my wedding, so I don't want to switch jobs if I can avoid it. I believe on Monday I will look for the poster about employee rights, and talk to the manager about what I'm supposed to do when I've got to pee. And he will definitely never be giving me another break that early. I'll just refuse to clock out, then clock out later (with responsibility to customers I might have) and eat something. If he wants to fire me for it, fine. I didn't do anything wrong.

This makes me feel much better! Thanks.

If worst comes to worst threaten to pee on the floor if he won't let you go. That should work if nothing else does! :D

Or make a very graphic comment about my "female trouble"! ;)

I used to use periods as a way to get to the bathroom lol. And yes I am fine my brother was killed last year on Jan. 11 so I have had plenty of time to get over everything but losing him.

If he wants to fire me for it, fine. I didn't do anything wrong.

If he does, then you've got legal grounds for getting $ from them. It's against the law. But like the others said, go through the proper channels first. I bet the manager gets reprimanded and/or fired. Keep us posted.

It sounds like your boss is very irresponsible for his position. :junk: to the boss for being a pain in the butt.