I work from home and am working for a call center for a big company as a contract worker since earlier this year. If you've ever worked for a call center environment, you know that the big push is on adherence and availability. I've been consistently hitting the metrics for the past 3 months and have gotten more than a few kudos from my direct boss. Within that same time frame, we've had meetings about being prudent with being unavailable during hours that you are scheduled to be on the phone. Always in a group setting, never fully directed at me.
Yesterday, nature called, and I had to get off the phone for 6 minutes during a 3 hour chunk of time where I was supposed to be on the phone. Today my manager spoke to me and told me this was unacceptable of me as I was creating a pattern of not being available during work time. He then told me that breaks and lunches are allocated for restroom time, which I get, but I don't always run on that schedule when I have to piss. He communicated to me that it would make sense to him if I had some sort of medical condition but doesn't make sense otherwise. He told me to go through my staffing agency, which I was hired through, in order to set up an arrangement for maybe getting an extra break. Not really my goal, I just want to be able to piss when I have to piss and not have a conversation afterwards. Really need this job, otherwise I'd leave. Not sure what kind of options I have anyway since I'm technically still a contract worker.
Edit: I've gotten a few replies about going to HR, or even looking up local laws. Unfortunately, a lot of legal recourse is limited due to the state I'm in (Arizona) and the fact that I'm a contract worker.
Anyway, small update, I spoke with the HR for my staffing agency, and they let me know that the company I'm working for would not accept a doctor's note after all, and would not accept an ADA request, they called it. They basically said adhere to the schedule, or quit. I'm so incredibly frustrated and I really need this job, otherwise I would absolutely quit. I'm in the process of looking for other jobs, but I can't be without income so I'm stuck for the moment.