Cafeteria employees who work at Intel are complaining about unwanted restrictions, and they are not happy about them. According to the contract workers who staff the cafeteria at Intel’s headquarters, they are restricted from going to the bathroom except during one of their ten-minute breaks or their meal periods, says USA Today.
Restroom policy is illegal
The cafeteria staff works for Eurest, a $1.4 billion Charlotte, North Carolina-based dining services company that runs employee dining centers across the nation. The Compass Group, the parent company of Eurest, is a property management company and a multinational contract food service company based in England.
Last week, the workers filed a formal complaint with California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The complaint stated that under state law, the restroom policy is illegal. Toilet facilities should be accessible to employees “at all times,” according to the state regulations, whereas federal law requires that toilets be provided to employees, but it does not specify when they must have access to the toilets.
With help from UNITE HERE, a contract worker filed the complaints. UNITE HERE is a union that works to organize contract Silicon Valley employees like cafeteria workers and shuttle drivers. Jessica Choy with Local 19 reported that the cafeteria employees work eight-hour shifts, and during that time, they get two ten-minute rest breaks and a 30-minute meal break.
Not the first time for Intel
Intel spokesman William Moss said the chip maker takes such allegations seriously.
“Intel prides itself maintaining on safe and clean facilities. Eurest has assured us that it is looking into the allegations and will keep us informed,” Moss said.
Moss said the chip maker expects all its suppliers to follow the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition Code of Conduct.
“Workers are to be provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities,” states the code.
Eurest did not comment on the matter.
Previously, the chip maker was accused of using poorly-paid contract workers in its food services while offering its staffers a wide range of perks, including free snacks, drinks, flexible stop and start times and cafes.
Another complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board by Eurest employees who work at Intel states that they have been told to remove union buttons from their uniforms. Also the complaint states that they were facing retaliation for their efforts to unionize. A raise of $1 an hour was promised by Eurest to discourage unionizing efforts, according to the complaint filed on March 18. Later, Eurest rescinded the promise because the efforts did not end.
