I work at a nationwide retail store that also has a hair salon. Washington State code says that employers must provide a restroom but there can be reasonable restrictions like if you're an essential worker or on a line you have to get coverage for your spot before you can go.
My store recently started locking our bathrooms because people were doing drugs and stealing a lot. We had a key that was accessible to employees.
They didn't tell us the reason why but they just took it away and only managers have a key now and you either have to search them out or page them.
There are two main assumptions at this point. Trying to find internal theft or micro managing because when someone goes to the bathroom it gets obvious because customers get mad there is no one to help them since of course they are operating on a skeleton crew (side note the company did over 4 billion in PROFITS) last year.
I've been trying to find if this would be considered a reasonable restriction or if this goes against anything like Americans with disabilities acts etc?