I’m finding it hard to work
Let’s face it: incontinence can make working a nightmare.
Why? For multiple reasons:
- You have to share toilets with colleagues.
- Toilets may be minimally available and/or unisex.
- You may have a job that makes it difficult to take a toilet break (e.g. waiter, taxi driver, receptionist, sales personnel).
- You may often be in long meetings that are difficult to leave.
Nobody wants to look like the ‘slacker’ who is going to the toilet multiple times a day and can never be seen at their desk. You might be worried that your employer thinks that you are wasting time, and that you should be dismissed as a result. In an ideal world, you would be able to sit down with your employer or HR representative, and explain the situation. In reality however, this makes most people feel uncomfortable.
The best solution is to get an official diagnosis from a healthcare professional. Then you can forward the document to the relevant person in HR, who should be able to inform the relevant people. If you are a member of a trade union, you could also talk to one of the leaders to raise awareness of the problem. If you are suffering in your workplace, it is certain that many others are too – you are certainly not alone.
