Penalties for employers and workers related to the conditions and use of the clothrooms, toilets and bathrooms as workplaces
Keywords:
Workplaces, changing rooms, toilets, personal integrity, privacy, sanctions, occupational health, decency, work breaksAbstract
The dignity of the person at work is linked to respect for the rights to physical integrity and privacy. Therefore, the rights to privacy and occupational health and safety are the gateway to the regulation of the use of changing rooms and toilets in the workplace and the prevention of occupational hazards.
We observe an erosion of these rights due to the introduction of technology, work on platforms or the organisation and monitoring of working time through working days without breaks or with controlled breaks during the execution of the work.
Recording in changing rooms and toilets with video surveillance cameras is prohibited. The employer must provide suitable changing rooms and toilets, including personal hygiene and privacy measures, as workplaces.
Employees need the decency of these spaces in terms of occupational health and privacy rights, again. The company, when controlling the time spent in the toilets, either deducts it, or does not consider it as effective working time, but as essential time to attend to physiological needs. It should therefore be recognised as a workers’ right. However, workers may be subject to disciplinary sanctions, depending on the seriousness of the offence committed, for inattention to work and abusive use of rest time.
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References
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