Do you think it is right for me to clean a public bathroom at my job?

I work in a retail environment(non-food) and our corporate office told us we must allow customers to use our unisex restroom. We are also required to clean this bathroom(wearing gloves, of course). The last few weeks, we have had customers defile this area to the point one coworker almost vomited while she was cleaning it. Another customer soiled himself and I could swear there was blood. I wound up cleaning the bathroom on this occation. Should my and I coworkers run the risk of getting some sort of illness because our corporate office requires us to clean the restroom? We are not allowed to tell customers they cannot use it. Is it in our rights to refuse to clean it? I work in NJ.
Do you think it is right for me to clean a public bathroom at my job?
Female employees in retail (food or non-food) never want to clean the bathrooms. In my time as a restaurant manager I've fired plenty for refusing to do it.





I never once had a male employee refuse to do it.
Reply:There is still the health issue. In today's society, you don't know who has what and a cleaning crew should be called in to do this. And I am looking to get back into my original career that I had before I had children and had to work close to home. Report Abuse

Reply:Yes, someone has to do it and a cleaning service usually comes only once a week. That is a daily job and as you pointed out, some customers are slobs and this job has to be done more than once. I have done this many times at my job without being asked. My boss usually does it herself.
Reply:ew that sounds disgusting, and i would never clean it, not even if I was forced to





you have the complete right not to clean that bathroom, especially if there's blood there - you dont know who the hell's blood it is - they could have AIDS for all you know





sounds like this bathroom is really gross, and so yeah, you definitely could contract a lot of illnesses from it





why dont you politely suggest to hire a maid to clean it every 2 hours or so...i wouldn't be caught dead in that gross bathroom haha :-P





good luck!!!
Reply:Do what we did at my former employment





Get a few quotes from cleaning services in the area, and compile them in a proposal to the corporate office comparing the cost of having your staff do it to that of what a cleaning service would be.





Outside of that - you have the right to find another job if they continue to insist your staff do it
Reply:Im sure your contract. If you dont have a contract then you are working there 8 hours a day and they can have you clean the bathroom all 8 ours if they want too.





You have a right to quit, but they have a right to fire you if you dont do it. Normally it rotates so everybody has to do it. There is nothing illegal or wrong about it. I assume they have the cleaning supplies needed for you to clean the bathrooms.





If you dont want to clean the bathroom when its required for your job, get another job that doesnt require it. I managed a place and I said to two new employees okay its your 2 days to clean the bathroom. One said I refuse. I said im in the rotation as well. He said I wont do it. I said that is fine. You have 20 minutes to clean it and if not I accept your resignation. Clock out when you leave.
Reply:Someone has to clean it.....If your employer provides you with gloves and cleaning materials then they are within guidelines. I am in upper management and I have cleaned plenty of restrooms in my day (and still do). I know that it isn't the high point of anyones day to clean up after nasty acting people but it is not unbearable. If you feel that you are not up to it, then you will have no choice but to seek other employment. I don't think that is what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth!! Good luck!!
Reply:Unfortunately, I think this may be part of some retail companies. If you work for larger department stores (Macy's etc.) they have a hiring crew that comes in. I think it is probably just the nature of the business. Maybe apply to be a receptionist at a medical or dental office?