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2nd Trimester
Written up at work for using the potty
I work for a big company in a call center. As employees we are given a total of 1 1/2 hours a month off of the phone for "personal time" (bathroom, water, ect.) aside from our normal breaks and lunch.
The problem I am running into is that I seem to be having to go to the bathroom about every hour and going over that allotted time. My supervisor is stating that if I don't get my Dr. to agree fill out intermittent FMLA papers then he has no option but to put me on a verbal and then written warning. I have talked to the Dr. office and they state they just dont fill out paper work unless it is absolutely needed.
I know i could always change Dr. but how do you start at a new Dr. and say "I'd like to make an appt. but first... do you fill out FMLA" with out sounding like your trying to use the system?
Has anyone gone threw something like this or have any advise?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Written up at work for using the potty
Wow that really sucks!
I know ppl can't fire you because you're pregnant,.. would this fall under the same category?
They can't fire you. If they did, then I sure hope you would sue the s*&t outta them!!!
This is absolutely absurd!!!! Not fair at all. and I would tell them this.
Ridiculous!!!!!!!
"I have talked to the Dr. office and they state they just dont fill out paper work unless it is absolutely needed."
If you're going to be written up and get a warning, then it is absolutely needed. You need to go back and tell them that this is the case and if they won't do it, then you need to find a new doc.
I agree with the above statement! Good luck with all of this!
Go into work with a bedpan and tell your boss "No... I'm not kidding."
It's not like you're spending hours at a time in the flippin bathroom. I think they can just get over it and let the pregger pee!
Free to pee! Free to peeeeee!
This sucks. I understand the need in a normal situation to limit how much an employee can be away from the phone if they work in a call center. However, if your doctor will not write you the note and you don't want to get a new doctor you can go to the workers center (normally the same location where you can file for unemployment, workers comp, food stamps, wic, ect...) and explain the situation to them. They will be able to give you the letter that you need for work. However, I can not imagine the HR and your boss not understanding that a pregnant woman has to use the restroom more than a non pregnant person.
Good luck with this.
Food Allergies to Eggs, Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts & Beef
Challenged Soy and tolerated it.
You're pregnant... anything could happen!
To pp's who say that at 14 weeks peeing every hour is too much: it's not. Some women pee a lot early in pregnancy without drinking absurd amounts of water/fluid - it's the urge to go that is so annoying, but necessary:) With my first, I did and it tapered off around 18 weeks and started up again in 3rd tri.
To OP: Check your handbook, contact a lawyer, put pressure on your Dr. to fill papers. Is your Dr. not aware of the situation at work? GL!
Um. I'm 14 weeks and I pee every hour. And I don't drink an abnormal amount.
OP, this reeks of pregnancy discrimination, I would talk to HR.....
Do you work an 8 hour work day? Even if you took 10 minutes to go to the bathroom each hour, which sounds excessive to me (not the # of times, just the length of time for each), you'd still be under the 1.5 hours.
Your employer is following policy and so should you. If you really need more than 90 minutes a workday for the bathroom, talk to your doctor because something could be wrong.
For those screaming about a law suit...I sigh at our society...the employer never said anything about her losing her job. She just stated that she is worried about it, although I'm not sure why because applying for FMLA doesn't imply someone is going to lose their job. Calm down people.
Your situation isn't ideal--that's for sure. Are you able to start early or extend your workday to make up for any of the time you're taking for bathroom breaks? Maybe that would make your boss happier? Just a thought that I didn't see mentioned yet...
That was 90 minutes every month. Talk to your doctor about writting you a note. It IS necessary to keep your job.
She gets 90 minutes a MONTH, not a day. Learn to read before you tell others to calm down.
She said 1.5 hours every month. If you assume 20 working days in a month, that's 4.5 min per day beyond her lunch and breaks (I assume 2 breaks per day).
My bad, I thought it said per day not per month. My apologies. Like I said though, get a note from your doctor if you need one, and follow FMLA. It's there for a reason.
jlrthompson...I said calm down about the lawsuit crap. This situation still does not warrant screaming for an attorney.
I agree
Wedding 6.18.04 Cole 11.20.06 Gavin 3.31.08 Parker 07.15.10 Logan 04.03.12
She get an hour and half a month not a week.
Wedding 6.18.04 Cole 11.20.06 Gavin 3.31.08 Parker 07.15.10 Logan 04.03.12
I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. I was also peeing every hour to 1.5 hours at 14 weeks--don't let other people tell you it's too much. It's healthy to drink water throughout the day and you're not drinking too much.
I really do think you should put your foot down and fight this. If you need to go, you need to go. People cannot tell you that you can't. I would document everything and if another instance like this happens again, most definitely contact a lawyer. I would go and talk to the boss again and explain you are doing your best but you do not want to get a UTI and you honestly cannot help needing to go. Also, call your doc today and explain the situation. If they're not willing to help you out with this, they may not be the one you want delivering your baby.
Good luck.
First of all, peeing almost every hour is not that uncommon at 14 weeks, I had the same issue.
FMLA seems a bit extreme, not to mention it will cut into the time you have off post baby (if you plan on returning back to work you probably care about this). I don't see why your doctor can't write you a note to keep on file. That should be enough to satisfy your supervisor and HR.
I work in HR and I think your employer if full of BS.
I can understand your doctor's hesitation to complete FMLA paperwork for this. Totally not warranted in this situation. You doc should instead write a note to employer explaining your restrictions (include the restroom breaks in the restrictions). Your employer then has a choice on whether he can accomodate these restrictions or not. If your employer can not, than you should be considered disabled and off work completely. End of story.
Good luck.. play by the rules.. but don't take crap from your employer.
A doctor's note is absolutly necessary - and any reasonable health care provider should listen to your situation and provide one for you. If your doctor or nurse won't than you should switch.
If HR is backing up your supervisor I would assume that the co. is probably not violating any rules. You could talk to a local legal services, but I think you should first get the doctor's note and then talk to HR about your options. I'm sure they have been in this situation many times before (maybe not so early in a pregnancy, but for pregancies in later stages and for other health reasons).
Good luck!
TTC #2 since April 2012
Year 1 - nothing
Year 2 - two m/c
Year 3 - unexplained diagnosis & 4 failed IUIs with Clomid/Letrozole
Year 4 - still unexplained & 3 failed IUIs with Follistim & Ovidral
Year 5 - trying on our own
Pregnant or not, 1.5 hours a month is crazy. That's around 4min a day which would mean only one or two pees and how would you ever have time to poo?
I work in a call center too, and my sup has mentioned my personal time since I got preg though there is no defined limit. I just told her I was doing the best I could and have to go when I have to go.