Some have even suffered a pay cut for visiting the lavatory during work time, a move which has prompted the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to launch a campaign, called Gotta Go, to force bosses to treat staff with greater respect.

One surveyed worker was docked an hour's wages, �5.28, during the course of a single week, while a pregnant night-shift worker in Southampton had to be escorted by a security guard across a badly lit car park to the nearest women's toilet.

Are you punished for going to the loo? Are you too busy to go? What other prohibitive measures have you suffered at work?

This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

Your reaction:

The managers watch over you so much that you begin to feel guilty about visiting the bathroom UE, UK/Nigeria

That has certainly been my experience over the years - especially as a temp doing various warehouse-type jobs. The managers watch over you so much that you begin to feel guilty about visiting the bathroom. Interestingly, I worked with a fellow student from France some months ago and he was astonished at the way we were treated. Needless to say he didn't spend more than two days there.
UE, UK/Nigeria

Given that the majority of managers are little men in big jobs (no pun intended!!) they have to try and lord it over the "little people" somehow. Personally, in my experience, when faced with such behaviour by the "David Brents" of this world, I've just ignored them and went anyway. They soon get the message.
Jay, UK

Companies have a lot more power over their employees than they did say ten years ago, which is unfortunate. It is interesting to note that a lot of ground rules (such as when to go to the toilet) are set up to streamline business practices. The result however, is that employees become burdened with an increasing sense of bureaucracy in the work place. What does this achieve but low staff moral, management dissatisfaction, and eventually an inefficiently run business?
Mark, Scotland

When I worked in a call centre we could go to the toilet but had to go onto 'Not Ready' and the time counted against us when our statistics were published. However now I am teaching and although the children can ask to go to the toilet during lessons, I can't leave the room.
Gill, UK

I'm made to feel like a second class employee for something which I cannot help Andrew, Newcastle, UK

Due to a medical condition I must visit the 'little boys room' around six times each day. I have constantly been ridiculed by colleagues and made to feel like a second class employee for something which I cannot help. This has also been raised in my 'one to one' appraisal sessions and caused a negative marking with respect to my timekeeping and professionalism.
Andrew, Newcastle, UK

Maybe if we stopped eating and drinking then we wouldn't spend those all so important couple of minutes going to the toilet. We would of course die, but that's just a minor problem! Just a thought though - who times the supervisors and managers to make sure they don't spend too long in the loo?!
Stephanie, England

The people who should have their wages docked are the smokers who congregate in the smoke room for 10 minutes on the hour every hour. In the space of a day they can easily do an hour's less work than everyone else.
Mark, NI, UK

I have to plan my toilet breaks carefully in advance and, when I go, I am accompanied. What am I? I'm a childminder.
Julie, UK

On my first day in a new job I was told I needed to ask permission to go to the toilet. On one occasion I was refused permission and some time later I could not help myself and wet my trousers. I was utterly humiliated.
Patrick, England

Employers are simply penny pinching!
David, UK

The place I work you have to ask to go to the toilet. I always ask to go to the toilet but I ask in a graphic way. Once everyone else found out they did the same thing my boss stopped asking.
Chris, England

We were charged for the two minutes Franziska, UK

Ten years ago I was working for a German company where we had to use swipe cards every time we left the office (the loos were near the reception). Apparently we had to do this in case of a fire so that they would know where everybody was. We were also "charged" for the two minutes it took to get from the swipe machine to our desk in the morning and a further two in the evening when we left!
Franziska, UK

My previous employer, only had one toilet so in a way restricted its use. Until they opened one on each floor. Then restricted use to staff on that floor only.
Colin Bartlett, Oxford. UK

Treated badly? Exploited? Join a union! Join as a group, and get support and advice from the union on how to organise and stand up to the boss. It's a cliche but it's true: Unity is strength!
Ben Drake, York, UK

The employers who treat their employees like animals should be named and shamed. There is simply no excuse for this in the 21st Century. I will guarantee they are the same ones who complain about paying a minimum wage. People having no interest or pride in their jobs as a result.
Jon, England

No one, disabled or not, should be subjected to the indignity of asking to go to the toilet Jones, UK

My sister is wheelchair bound. She was given a job at a large supermarket on the checkout. She made it clear that part of her condition meant that she had to go to the loo every three hours or so - not uncommon. When she asked to go her supervisor would often ask her in front of customers if it was urgent and then tell her to wait - impossible for someone who has no feeling below her waist! No one, disabled or not, should be subjected to the indignity of asking to go to the toilet.
Jones, UK

Perhaps employers could provide workers with adult sized nappies, then we would never have to leave our desks to waste precious time to do such a silly thing as going to the toilet.
Eric Chonn, UK

Oh my God! First surgeons are forced to operate with dessert spoons and now this! Since when has Great Britain become a third world nation? All in all, it does make the impression.
Daniela, Berlin, Germany

My boss stood outside the cubicle listening, then fired me John, UK

I temped in an office recently where my boss actually stood outside the cubicle listening when I went to the loo. He then fired me for taking too long, making it the most expensive stomach upset ever.
John, UK

Workers who are refused permission to use the toilets should just find a convenient piece of machinery to use instead. The employers will soon change their policy!
MM, UK

I haven't got time to give an opinion right now, I simply must go and 'pay a visit'!
Ian Collier, UK