[3] The study also found that half of call centre workers postponed taking toilet breaks during working hours due to management restrictions placed on them.
The Employment Relations Act in New Zealand states that an employee must be provided with rest breaks to attend to personal matters.
Here the law bargains on “good faith” which essentially refers to employees and employers not abusing the fact that there are no clear guidelines on the issue.
[8] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Agency has undone some of the business opposition to workers taking toilet breaks.
In recognition of an employer’s legitimate interest in avoiding disruptions, there is also a clear public policy in favor of allowing reasonable restrictions on employees’ access to the restrooms.
[13] In the United Kingdom, the law is unclear on whether an employer can deduct an employee's pay based on the fact they have accessed the toilet for more than 20 minutes in total over a period of six hours of more of work.
[14] The Employment Rights Act 1996 states that a worker cannot have their pay deducted unless it is authorised by statute or if the employee has consented in writing.
[16] Some workers have reported having to raise their hand, like a child in pre-school, in order for permission to be granted to simply exercise the basic human need to access a toilet.
[1] The above issues are currently gaining attention through the Trades Union Congress so that they may be addressed by Parliament and a specific allowance of access to toilets will be legally accepted.
[16][1][2] The Trades Union Congress stated there is also a need for a specific legal right to use toilets in the employer's time without a deduction in pay, and without any harassment.
"[1] In 2009, contact centre workers in Scotland Yard's control were being forced to record every visit they made to the toilet during their working hours.
Superintendent Russ Hanson-Coles claimed that requiring the phone operators to record their toilet visits as “code three” deterred them from taking unnecessary breaks.