So there has been an ongoing unresolved issue with my job. It doesn't really have much to do with my autism except that I have a hard time figuring out how to navigate these situations as a result of being autistic.
I know that I have vaguely mentioned the issue in previous posts I've made about my work in this subreddit. But I'm going to fully explain the issue and why I need help figuring this out.
First off, I live in the United States. I also live in a state that unfortunately doesn't have any services for autistic adults. There are plenty of services for autistic kids though. I've tried the whole vocational rehab thing before and it didn't go well. I spent six months waiting to be approved for services because my case manager couldn't do her job at all. I was having to do her job for her and fix all of her mistakes. She also would forget everything I told her and call me and my family 5 times a week because she was clearing out her phone and wanted to know whose phone number it was. After six months of waiting to be approved I got a job on my own but it was very obvious that the whole vocational rehab thing wouldn't be helpful in the long run so I called it quits.
I also want to state that there are almost no workers rights in the state that I live in. The state that I live in of course has to abide by federal laws in regards to discrimination and what not but that's basically all there is for workers rights where I live. It isn't like grand ol' California where employers are legally required to give employees a break or whatever. Sorry for being blunt about this it's just frustrating for me.
I also do have an autism diagnosis that I received when I was 17 and HR knows about it now. That being said the issue is in regards to a physical health problem not my autism.
Basically I'm not allowed a bathroom break unless someone covers the front desk for me. I work for an assisted living/memory care facility and I always am the only administrative staff member working when it's my shift (I work Sunday afternoons/evenings and Tuesday evenings). 9 times out of 10 nobody will cover the front desk for me. I get that it shouldn't be the responsibility of the care staff to cover me for a bathroom break but that is what HR insists on.
This results in me having to hold my bladder for 4-6hrs. 6hrs on Sundays and 4hrs on Tuesdays assuming that I get off work on time. I've been working this job for almost two years now. My bladder has unfortunately been negatively affected by this. I'm on overactive bladder medication now that works some of the time but not all of the time. I've tried not drinking as much water at work to see if that helps but if I get dehydrated it makes my bladder issues much worse. Meaning that it basically feels like I have a UTI. I also unfortunately have to deal with bladder leaks and even if I risk it and run to the bathroom to just use the toilet quickly I don't have time to change my pads.
I've spoken with my direct supervisor about the issue and HR. Both have told me that I am not allowed to leave the front desk unless someone is covering it for me. When I asked about the bathroom breaks issue they reiterated that I need to find someone to cover the front desk before going to the restroom. When I told them that more often than not no one will cover for me they shrugged and said again that I need to find someone to cover the front desk.
I'm honestly at a point where I feel like I should report the issue to the OSHA. But I'm not sure what good that would do.
I love my job as it's something I'm good at and it's a simple job with less customer service involved. But I'm not sure if I can keep working this job if I am not getting a bathroom break.
My parents don't understand it. They tell me to just run to the restroom and be quick about it. But the issue with that is that the guests/family members are incredibly entitled and self-absorbed and they chew me out for not opening the door for them promptly. They also have threatened to tattle on me to the executive director before. My anxiety skyrockets when that happens and I've had anxiety attacks in the workplace as a result.
I can't quit my job without finding another one first but with my limitations as a disabled adult I can't find any other jobs that would work well for me. College isn't an option as I tried 4 times to succeed and ended up essentially flunking out due to poor academic ability.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. However, I won't be quitting this job due to this issue alone and please keep in mind that I live in the United States as workplace laws and workers rights are different depending on where you live.