is it illegal not to let someone use the bathroom in a store?

Question

i went to the store with my daugther and she needed to go to the bathroom and i asked one of the managers to let me use the bathroom and they said no and i asked her if my daugther had an accident wil they claen it up she said no that i have to clean it up

Answer 1

No
Hi You know the type of store and where you live makes a difference about your situation.
I couldn't help but notice you didn't mention the type of store you were in!!!!
Many stores except restaurants don't allow people to use their bathrooms.
Too many diseases and dirty people in this world today it's a fact of life.
So don't rag on a person that says you'd have to clean up any mess you had happen because of your daughter.
Sounds like you got up on the wrong side of the rock!
I think you have better take a little bit of thought and responsibility and come into the 21st century.
I know you feel self righteous about this most people do and it's easy to use your kids to get others to side with you and feel sorry for you .
But you should rethink your situation. What would you do with aids and herpes and type a and b hepatitis etc if you were a clerk, working in a store clean up another persons throw up or crap i doubt it.
Stop being so selfish and narcissistic.

Answer 2

It is not a law that stores maintain a public restroom. Having one is a way to keep you in a store so you don't leave when nature calls. The employee would have to clean the pee if there was an accident though. Most stores have rules set up by the management so it isn't the employees fault. I used to work at a retail store and we weren't allowed to let customers use the restroom. I hated that rule it seemed so cruel especially when there is a child involved. With so many lawsuits happening all the time some most insurance companies charge a ton of money to cover restroom areas so they write it into your insurance contract that restroom use by customers isn't covered by insurance (this is the case where I worked. Target and Walmart make such big profits they can afford the extra insurance).

Answer 3

I cant even tell you how many times this has happened to me. It's ridiculus. But they dont let you use the facilities due to liability. If you were to slip or contract an infection or domething then you can sue and they dont want that.
I couldnt believe this the first time it happened to me, I tried like 4 stores, then went to a Dr's office as they always have toilets. But even then I was refused. No one cares that these little kids are going to wet themselves. It even happened in one of those church charity stores. I asked and was refused, I explained that my daughter has a problem with her kidneys and really needed to go. But was still refused. I begged and pleaded and still no. So I took her outside and let her pee on their driveway. There building was on a back road in the middle of nowhere, with nowhere to go and a bus would be an hour to wait for plus another 30 min to get home. How was a little 1 &1/2 yr old meant to wait that long?
And you dont have to clean it up, if your child has an accident. They do. Just walk away and look after your daughter. If the people are nice then you can inform them about what happened so they can clean it before someone slips over.

Answer 4

to bad this happened to you and your daughter. it is better to find another place to go to the bathroom so your daughter doesn't have an accident and then later return to the store and discuss the problem with the top manager... make sure you took down the person's name who won't let you use the restroom. inform them that you were very disappointed and don't plan on shopping there again and you will spread the news to everyone and anyone who will listen. and the part about you having to clean it up.... omg! i worked @ a petstore and dogs came in all the time (with their owners) and the first thing they did was pop a squat... and you know who cleaned it up.... the people working there! very poor judgment on management @ that store!!!

Answer 5

They may refuse you the restroom but there's no physical way on Earth they can make You clean the mess unless you let them bully you into it. Any one who has the space in their vehicle and small children could always benefit from one of those prtable potties. They make them really nice now. It's terrible to make a little child wait it's like punishment when they don't know what they've done. I'd be ticked too

Answer 6

The law does not require that all businesses/establishments have public restrooms. Usually, though, people who do have facilities allow you to use them in an emergency. The manager was within the bounds of the law, but way out of the bounds of human decency. It is not, however, your responsibility to clean up any accidents that occur in that situation. Heck, one accident might just change their views on letting people use their bathrooms!

Answer 7

retail stores and smaller clothing stores and stuff can and most do. the reason being most people go in to the bathroom and trash it. it only makes it bad on the employees who have to have a bathroom. they can refuse any one the bathroom. my moms store does everyday sooo many people are soo slack and they ruin ot for everyone it only takes one person to ruin something for everyone else/ denying a little kid is harsh but again people say their kid has to go so they can and again trash the bathroom it sucks but its life if its a small child under 5 put a pull up on them. an older child find a store or resturant that has one/ sorry this happened too

Answer 8

completely unacceptable!! i would have gone to a manager and explained that "no public bathrooms" does NOT apply to toddlers and small children that are still learning the extent of their bladder control!! i would still call them or go into the store again and complain and if possible, file a complaint with the corporate office saying the location of their store and the associate that refused to let your child use the bathroom and that you will tell everyone you know to boycot their store and will also take your business elsewhere. ya gotta hit 'em where it hurts...their $$ and they wouldn't want to lose business over something that silly.

Answer 9

A store doesn't have to let you use their bathroom if it's off the main floor. A lot of times, a company will have insurance to cover something that happens to you on the main floor, but not in the back. They can't let you back there. Maybe that was the situation.

Answer 10

No, it's private property. The only thing they could get into trouble for is discrimination- if they let everyone who didn't have kids go and you and your daughter couldn't or something along those lines. Otherwise, it's just like you not letting a door to door salesman use your bathroom.
Private property is private property, the owner can do as he/she pleases regarding the bathroom.