A meat company supplying Tesco has been accused of "Dickensian employment practices" by making workers clock off when they go the toilet.
A meat company supplying Tesco has been accused of "Dickensian employment practices" by making workers clock off when they go the toilet.
The Unite union is now calling on Tesco to intervene to stamp out the practice at Dumfriesshire-based Brown Brothers.
The Unite union is now calling on Tesco to intervene to stamp out the practice at Dumfriesshire-based Brown Brothers.
One worker said staff felt "angry" that time spent in the toilet was not included in their working week.
One worker said staff felt "angry" that time spent in the toilet was not included in their working week.
The firm said the policy was part of a deal agreed with workers and unions to ensure production ran smoothly.
The firm said the policy was part of a deal agreed with workers and unions to ensure production ran smoothly.
They have already been paid to manage their own lavatorial affairs Martin Godfrey, Brown Brothers
They have already been paid to manage their own lavatorial affairs Martin Godfrey, Brown Brothers
The employee, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that a single toilet break could take up to 10 minutes.
The employee, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that a single toilet break could take up to 10 minutes.
"We have to clock out, take off our wellies, overalls and hairnets, we have to run up stairs, have to come back in get dressed again," she said.
"We have to clock out, take off our wellies, overalls and hairnets, we have to run up stairs, have to come back in get dressed again," she said.
Office staff and managers were exempt from their rules, she claimed.
Office staff and managers were exempt from their rules, she claimed.
'Avoid disruption'
'Avoid disruption'
Brown Brothers' managing director Martin Godfrey agreed that staff were not paid for toilet breaks, but said it was part of special pay deal agreed with the workers and union to ensure the smooth running of the production line.
Brown Brothers' managing director Martin Godfrey agreed that staff were not paid for toilet breaks, but said it was part of special pay deal agreed with the workers and union to ensure the smooth running of the production line.
Unscheduled toilet breaks could cause significant disruption, especially as staff wore protective clothes, he said.
Unscheduled toilet breaks could cause significant disruption, especially as staff wore protective clothes, he said.
"Is it not better to come up with a deal to discourage that from happening?".
"Is it not better to come up with a deal to discourage that from happening?".
Staff received extra money as part of the pay deal which was aimed at focusing toilet breaks at set times of the day, he said.
Staff received extra money as part of the pay deal which was aimed at focusing toilet breaks at set times of the day, he said.
"They have already been paid to manage their own lavatorial affairs."
"They have already been paid to manage their own lavatorial affairs."
A spokesman for Unite said Tesco should take responsibility for the working practice.
A spokesman for Unite said Tesco should take responsibility for the working practice.
"They pick their suppliers, and sign up to ethical codes, we think they should intervene and stop it," the spokesman said.
"They pick their suppliers, and sign up to ethical codes, we think they should intervene and stop it," the spokesman said.
A Tesco spokesman said they took issues of labour standards very seriously and require suppliers to meet those standards.
A Tesco spokesman said they took issues of labour standards very seriously and require suppliers to meet those standards.
The supermarket did not plan to intervene, but "the position might change", he added.
The supermarket did not plan to intervene, but "the position might change", he added.
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