Toilet break query

[Sheppard Digital]

A quick query.

I have an apprentice who I think is taking the pee with regards to his toilet breaks.

For example, we went for lunch at 12 today, when I came back into the office at 1pm, he then went to the toilet for 15 minutes, meaning his lunch break ended up being 1 hr 15 minutes.

Then in the afternoon he's gone to the toilet again for another 15 minutes, the same happened in the morning too.

By my rough estimate he's spending between 45 minute to 1 hour in the toilet each day.

So, a few questions.

1) Am I allowed to query his toilet breaks and why they seem to last so long?
2) Can I tell him that his lunch hour is meant for also going to the toilet, and that after his lunch is finished he shouldn't be going straight away again.
3) Can I ask him to leave his phone on his desk when he goes to the toilet? as I suspect this is why he's spending so long in there.

 

[MASSEY]

Does he still get all his work done?

I was once queried about my toilet breaks for a company i worked for but i was really taking the piss

I don't think you can say 'your lunch break is also time for toilet breaks'. I don't know many people who can perform the passing of bodily waste at a set time every day.

I think the best approach is to ban mobile phone usage at work. If anyone needs to get in touch with the employee urgently they would do so by calling the work land line and ask to speak to them.

But doing such will upset people.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I would ban him from taking his phone to the toilet. His lunch break should give him more than enough time to use it.

 

[Sheppard Digital]

Does he still get all his work done?

I was once queried about my toilet breaks for a company i worked for but i was really taking the piss

I don't think you can say 'your lunch break is also time for toilet breaks'. I don't know many people who can perform the passing of bodily waste at a set time every day.

I think the best approach is to ban mobile phone usage at work. If anyone needs to get in touch with the employee urgently they would do so by calling the work land line and ask to speak to them.

But doing such will upset people.

Personally, I think some work is taking longer than it should.

 

[TheClearance]

Does this worker follow any particular religion?

Perhaps he has religious duties to attend to?

 

[TheClearance]

Or perhaps he suffers from a condition?

 

[Sheppard Digital]

Or perhaps he suffers from a condition?

yeh. Skivitis

 

[simon field]

He might be addicted to.....ahem.....Sherman Tanking?

 

[Newchodge]

Presumably, as he is an apprentice, you have regular discussions/appraisals with him? I would raise the issue there, and ask if he has a problem that is causing these absences. Also discuss any deadline matters and extended time taken to complete tasks.

I don't think you can control the toilet breaks, but you could also ask that he leaves his phone with you while he is gone.

 

[Talay]

Does this worker follow any particular religion?

Perhaps he has religious duties to attend to?

Not on my time.

 

[Talay]

The answer is simple really. This youth has parents who have failed to instil in him the correct work ethic, manners or respect for an employer. This could be because he is an orphan or more likely that his role models have been feasting on the welfare state.

He needs corrective education and a straightforward talking to. Hour for lunch, no piss taking on Facebook when on the bog or nipping out for fag breaks.

Shape up or ship out.

 

[bwglaw]

I suggest a supportive chat with the employee concerned at the next supervision. It could be that the employee suffers from a condition such as IBS.

The employee may well be going to the toilet to take medication in private.

If you discover that it is to use their mobile phone then I suggest you have a policy that applies to everyone and not just an individual. If it is still an issue post-policy then you can address these individually or collectively through training.

 

[avantime]

I think you should undertake a Time and Motion study!

Is there anything you can line the loo walls with to stop a mobile signal?

 

[MancunianCreative]

I generally find when a company is overly finicky about timings they're not working to the best of their abilities.

It's tough as an apprentice. You are often bored, not trusted to do things, don't know anyone and it can be scary entering the big brave world of work.

Is there anyway you can create a culture of trust? Give them a specific set of tasks to complete before the end of the day and if they complete them, let them go home.

I've always favoured a task based way of working compared to the 'you are here from 9-5' way. I'd rather have someone blast through all they needed to do at 100%, being focused and determined than some wage-slave, staring at the clock totally disinterested in the task at hand waiting for 5pm. For the record I've been both of those employees, in my life.

 

[See Interiors]

The answer is simple really. This youth has parents who have failed to instil in him the correct work ethic, manners or respect for an employer. This could be because he is an orphan or more likely that his role models have been feasting on the welfare state.

He needs corrective education and a straightforward talking to. Hour for lunch, no piss taking on Facebook when on the bog or nipping out for fag breaks.

Shape up or ship out.

Or maybe he is demotivated by the lack of pay and the fact he has a boss watching his every move! I bet your the type of boss that gets annoyed when your employees leave at 5pm (or whenever their contracted shift ends) because you would expect them to put in an extra 10-15 mins a day for free.

If you don't show your employees respect how can you expect them to respect you!

I had an employer exactly like you once back in my days as an employee and needless to say I promptly left that company.

If my employees are completing all of their work then I couldn't care less what they do, they can use their mobile phones, work from home, pop out for lunch whatever they want to do and I bet I have a more motivated and productive staff team than you do.

Rant over, now you can get back to watching your employees to make sure they are working.

 

[MASSEY]

I bet your the type of boss that gets annoyed when your employees leave at 5pm (or whenever their contracted shift ends) because you would expect them to put in an extra 10-15 mins a day for free.

I used to have a manager like that. I got my own back in the end when i left giving no notice and pocketing wages for work i'd never done as well as using most of my holiday in the first couple of months of the year

 

[thelegalstop]

Are you managing him? Does he do the work required? Does he harm the working environment in anyway? You have the right to ask him, but be nice