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How many bathroom breaks are you allowed to take?

On Behalf of | Jul 19, 2019 | Employee Rights |

As an employee, you have a variety of legal rights. For example, you’re permitted to take bathroom breaks throughout the day. However, it’s important to do so within reason.

Most companies don’t have restrictions in regards to how many bathroom breaks you can take. As long as you do so when the need arises, as opposed to looking for ways to pass the time, you shouldn’t face any trouble.

What does reasonable mean?

This varies from one company and position to the next. The most important thing to remember is that your breaks shouldn’t interfere with your ability to do your job.

If you have any questions, there’s nothing wrong with discussing them with the HR department.

Do you get paid for bathroom breaks?

The Fair Labor Standards Act notes that short breaks are beneficial to both the employee and the company, so they should be paid. If the break extends past a reasonable time limit, typically set at 20 minutes, your employer may refuse to pay you for that time.

Bathroom restrictions don’t typically come into play at places of business, but you never know what your employer could do in the future.

If your employer is impeding on your legal right to take breaks, don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with them. Also, review your employee handbook to see what it says about this.

If you’re unable to come to a resolution on your own, it’s time to learn more about your legal rights. You should never let your employer put you at a disadvantage by violating the law.