Adelaide McDonald’s restaurant faces complaint after staff claim they were denied bathroom breaks, water on shift

A McDonald’s restaurant in Adelaide’s western suburbs has denied a SafeWork SA complaint which claims staff were denied water and bathroom breaks during their shifts, accusing the fast food chain of “incidents of heat stress and psychosocial risk”. Employees at the fast food restaurant in the suburb of West Lakes have previously reported to the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) the restaurant did not maintain a work-safe environment by denying staff from keeping water at their workstations during their shift. According to the SDA investigation - the basis of a report now lodged with SafeWork SA - staff were allegedly told to “store it in the crew room and request permission to leave their workstation for a drink or bathroom break”. Three employees at the McDonald’s claimed they experienced and reported incidents of heat stress, alleging the “AC is ineffective in areas like the kitchen centre and drive-thru, increasing the need for hydration”. The report also alleged “workers report management calling them ‘annoying’ for asking for water or bathroom access”. The SDA report claimed when the service is busy, “breaks are often denied, with workers told to ’wait’ until demand eases, which can take a long time”. Another employee alleged they were denied necessary medication during their shift. In a statement, SafeWork SA said: “A SafeWork SA Inspector has undertaken two visits to McDonald’s West Lakes, following an Entry Permit Holder report being lodged with SafeWork SA by the SDA in December 2024.” “Documentation has been received and is currently under review,” the statement continued. SDA SA secretary Josh Peak said denying access to drinking water and toilet breaks during a worker’s shift was “unlawful and incredibly unsafe”. “Heat stress is a real hazard in a fast-paced and hot work environment like fast food, denying workers access to water exacerbates this risk,” Mr Peak told NewsWire. “All workers have the right to have access to drinking water and to go to the bathroom. “Maccas workers should not have to ask for permission every time they need to do this,” Mr Peak said. “McDonald’s is the largest employer of young people in Australia, and it’s outrageous they are denying their crew their fundamental rights.” In a statement to NewsWire, a McDonald’s spokesperson said the fast food chain was “committed to providing safe and respectful workplaces for our crew”. “Our crew are able to access water and amenities throughout their shift, as needed. In accordance with food safety regulations, drink bottles are not allowed in food preparation or customer service areas,” the company said in a statement. In response to the claims of inadequate cooling, the restaurant explained it had “installed new airconditioning in the restaurant in April 2024”. “Safe Work SA contacted McDonald’s West Lakes in November 2024,” the spokesperson told NewsWire. “No recommendations were made to rectify or remedy any issues. The Union made us aware that they had received contact from a crew member, and have yet to provide us with further details or seek a formal response.” NewsWire has contacted SafeWork SA for comment.