Great News For Michigan Restroom Usage

[theclownster]

Hi everyone! Thought this article might be of interest to some of you. The Michigan House of Representatives just passed the Restroom Access Act. It still needs to pass in the senate but it sounds like we are one step closesr to getting restroom access.

Here's an article that talks a little about it.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071006/OPINION03/710060342

[traceann]

YAY! Thanks for the info!! :)

[SharonA]

I am very happy for those who live in your beautiful state and I hope that other states will follow your lead, but find it curious that people need a law to use a bathroom. What ever happened to common decency and courtesy? What is the big deal about letting people use restrooms? Maybe if we boycotted those establishments who do not allow customers to use their precious toilets when in dispirit need and tell them why we are going to do so, it might hit them where it hurts...their financial bottom lines.

I think a great question to ask them if they refuse us potty privileges is to ask if they would refuse a very pregnant woman. If they say no, look around and say, "Well, I don't see one right now. May I take her place?" :lmao:

[Claredale]

When we were in Mountain View last month, all the little touristy shops had signs advising that their restrooms were not public. I said something to one of the clerks and he said that they can allow people "in the back" because they may hurt themselves and sue. The only places that had bathrooms were food establishments (which weren't many) or you could go to the public bathroom that was in the middle of town square.

Tracey

[JanL]

I work in a retail store in a fairly new outdoor mall (you can drive up to the individual stores) in a very nice area of town. There are public bathrooms (two), but they are located down alley ways that seem to be dark and not easily accessible. Who in the world designed these this way?? I have told my 15 year old daughter to never go to them by herself). The large bookstore (2 doors down from our store) has wonderful public restrooms, but they are in the very back of the store (not easy to get to quickly). The restroom in our store is located in our back stock room. Sometimes there are so many boxes, glass shelves, and racks of clothes that it really can be a safety hazard to get to it. We try to let customers use it when possible. Technically, we are not required to let customers use it because there are public restrooms at the mall. The other disadvantage to customers using it is that an employee has to stay back there with them the entire time they are in the restroom because of all of the merchandise back there and all of the employee purses. It is not always possible to take an employee off of the sales floor if we are really swamped, but we do try our best. I think that all stores should have restrooms that are accessible to the public. Another store a few doors down has a restroom that is located in a separate area from their stockroom. I wish that ours had been designed this way. So... I do empathize with everyone with IC and we do try to accomodate those who need access, but please realize that sometimes it is not the employees fault if they have been told by management to not let customers in the back room.

Thanks,
Janice

[tigger_gal]

Well it is about time.. I recall going to pay my light bill and was told no when I asked to use their rest room.

[Julie B]

That is good news! :-)

[mary124]

This is great news for your folks in Michigan. I don't know if we have a similar law here in Texas, but most of the places that I shop in have access to public restrooms, the ones that don't I don't bother to shop in- or if I go in there its only for a few minutes to pick up one or 2 items.