TLDR: was followed in the restroom and watched through the stalls. It happened three times and I told them to STOP. It's clear they're checking to make sure employees are not on their phones, but that's not a valid reason to be looking at and watching my lower half while I'm undressed and wiping. I mean this literally. Not just checking to make sure I am in there. She was watching me through the stall and literally watching me wipe myself.
I was FURIOUS. Livid.
I told the manager it was unacceptable. I told the owner it was unacceptable. I was told that if I use the restroom any more than ONCE or not on a designated break that my hours would be cut. Not only is this already illegal but I have a diagnosed condition called glucose intolerance. (Don't lecture me, I'm working my ass off to reduce it and be healthy) and one of the symptoms is frequent urination.
Here's a complete copy of the email I sent to OSHA, BOLI, and the companies corporate help email. I also left a call to the corporate relations office and a call to the non emergency police. Sensitive information is X'ed out. Never thought I'd have to post here, but here we are.
I do curse a lot. But you'd do the same if your manager walked into the restroom and purposely watched you wiping your ass.
Hello, Taco Fast Food Place Public Relations. My name is XXX, my phone number is XXX
I have been employed with Taco Fast Food place on XXX st for about 2 weeks or more.
I have paper work (from this week) stating that I have glucose intolerance. A symptom of that is frequent urination.
The incident I am reporting has happened 3 times now. I use the restroom and I am followed by a manager and they look at me through the cracks of the stall and watch me, make eye contact with me, and talk to me while I am using the restroom. Pants down and wiping. 3 times.
While WATCHING ME WIPE through the stall the manager on shift said:”You can't be in here. You have to be upfront at all times.”
(We were dead at this point, and I told the drive thru lead where I went, I'd also like to say that I only spend about 4 minutes tops in that bathroom as usual.)
I say:”I'm literally wiping my ass!”
I contacted my manager Juan through text shortly after and told him that being watched and followed into the bathroom is unacceptable. He acknowledged it but did not address it. Neither did the manager who followed me. (She is his wife, never got her name.)
My text to Owner at 12:10 PM 10/15/22, Saturday:
“Am I not allowed to use the bathroom? This is the second time that someone has followed me into the bathroom, looked through the stall, and told me I couldn't.”
“I am always moving, I am allowed bathroom breaks.”
12:13pm from me
“She was watching me through the stall, looking at me, talking to me, while I was WIPING”
“That is unacceptable”
Message from Owner at 12:18 pm on 10/15/22, Saturday
“Your are allowed but you don't go to bathroom every hour do you?”
He has clearly acknowledged that I was watched and does not address it.
I confronted the manager who followed me into the restroom. (His wife, with X hair)
I said:
“Do not fucking watch me while I'm wiping. I'm texting Owner right now, it is unacceptable to be following me into the restroom and watching me wipe. I am allowed to use the restroom.”
Her response:
“Okay? Owner is my husband and he knows how I work. I know how to do my job. I told you have to stay up front!” She yelled this, got in my face, and was shaking with anger. (Never said anything about her job, just the watching me)
She then proceeds to speak in Spanish to my coworkers and there is repeated use of the word Baño. (Bathroom, In Spanish)
Everyone is now speaking amongst themselves in Spanish and most of them are staring at me.
Within the next five minutes I am handed a store phone and an employee says :”It's the owner”
I step outside and speak with him.
“I shouldn't be followed and watched in the bathroom as I'm wiping.”
He does not acknowledge this.
He asks me how many times have I used the restroom in the 2 hours I've been there.
I said 2.
“Are you absolutely sure? I will check the cameras.”
I said “Go ahead.”
I told him that I have pelvic floor damage and glucose intolerance. Which means I have to urinate more than others. I am also on my period. Everything which I stated.
“You can't go every hour. Every 4-5 minutes an hour is stolen from my time and my companies time. If you can't refrain from using the restroom then I will have to give you 3 hour shifts. (I currently work 5 hour shifts) If I let you go then I have to let everyone go. Most employees only go once. On their ten minute break.”
He told me that if I was upset I could leave for the day. He verified that if I left for the day and came back tomorrow my job would still be intact.
Me:
“Thank you very much, sir.”
I left the restaurant at 12:28pm. I called my sister, XXX, shortly after walking out of the building.
I feel violated for being watched, half naked and a dirty pad in between my legs. As well as not being allowed to use the restroom. And facing retribution and hour cuts for using it.
For the record at 2:30pm on 10/15/22 Saturday I placed a report to the non-emergency police regarding the being watched while indecent. It is now on file. XXX
At 2:37pm on 10/15/22, Saturday I left a message to BOLI at XXX stating the same thing as well as facing repercussions for using the restroom/ not being able to.
I will be making more calls to OSHA AND BOLI on Monday morning.
XXX's number:
XXX
I believe his last name is XXX or something similar.
The XXX number:
XXX
The images and screen shots in order:
- Message between me and Owner.
2+ Messages between my sister and I/recap of the situation. - My diagnosis of Glucose Intolerance, doctors visit note, and I.D. stating that the diagnosis is accurate as of 10/9/22 2:45pm
- Definition of frequent urination as a symptom of glucose Intolerance according to www.diabetes.co.uk
Thank you very much for your time. I apologize if it lengthy and also for the cursing in the screenshots.
(This part I added only for corporate)
If I do not hear back from you, you WILL hear back from me. One way or another. This is unacceptable.
It's only Sunday so I likely won't hear back until this week.
I just called and quit. And the woman on the phone who claimed to be the owners daughter outright REFUSED to let me speak to the owner or any manager. “You can just tell me whatever it is and I'll take care of it.” I told her I quit.
“Good, that's all I need to know.”
And hung up on me.
Absolutely ridiculous.
I've already been accepted for another job that pays almost three times as much and I kept this one just to have some cash incoming while the background checks clear. I now understand why the staff is mainly a bunch of teenagers. They don't know any better.
Thank you for reading. Sorry for cursing. Very frustrated with the whole situation.