Dashers, Uber Eats drivers , Postmates drivers and every other delivery driver is facing a "No Restroom" available problem. Many of these gig workers are out there on the road for up to 12 hours or more sometimes. With frequent stops to restaurants picking up customer's food; in the past, using the restroom was generally not a problem. That was the Pre-Covid 19 days though. These days there are times when it is not easy for a delivery driver to use the restroom or wash their hands.
It's easy to understand all of the precautionary measures that some restaurants are implementing during this pandemic. We have to appreciate the merchants that are enforcing social distancing, wearing of the mask and so on. Some have taken it a bit too far though by closing their restrooms to the public. When we say the public, we mean anybody that does not work for that particular restaurant. Yep, that includes Doordash drivers and other delivery drivers. There is no special treatment or pass for anybody.
Why don't these restaurants let their customers use the restroom during this pandemic?
Surely every restaurant will have their own reasons. Some may be doing it to make their employees feel safe. They may feel that by keeping their restrooms to themselves they have a better chance of staying safe. They don't want the public in their restroom which means more people and more germs and a greater chance of the Covid-19 virus entering their restrooms. Guess who has to clean these restrooms? That's right the employees.
From a delivery driver's perspective this may seem unfair, but a merchant really does not have to give anybody a reason as to why their restrooms are not open to the public. This includes gig companies such as Doordash. No gig company can call up a merchant and order that they allow their drivers to use their restrooms. The restaurants can keep their restrooms closed to the public whenever they want.
Shouldn't Doordash drivers be given a special privilege to use the restroom?
It would be nice wouldn't it! Dashers and other food delivery drivers are doing these restaurants a tremendous service by delivering their food to their customers. Dashers are essential workers aren't they? Shouldn't they be appreciated?
Of course delivery drivers should be appreciated, but unfortunately delivery drivers for Doordash, Grubhub, Postmates, etc. have generally always gotten the low end of the stick. Most would think that the restaurants (who know the business a bit more than your normal individual) would appreciate delivery drivers more than your average Joe. This is especially true as a large percentage of the restaurants overall orders are being delivered by these drivers during this time of uncertainty.
Unfortunately, almost all merchants do not differentiate between a delivery driver and a regular customer. If an individual is not an employee of that particular restaurant, they cannot use the restroom. Let's ask it again. Should delivery drivers get special privileges and be able to use the restrooms at the restaurants they are picking up from? Yes they should! Will they? Of course they won't!
Don't merchants appreciate that Dashers are delivering food to their customers?
Some may and others may not ever give drivers a thought. Let's be realistic here. Your normal every-day employee at a restaurant does not appreciate a Doordash drivers. He or she could care less. They are there to work their hours, make their money and go home.
Some managers may care, but chances are that the majority of them don't; or they don't care enough. The owner or any other person that holds a high financial interest in the business are the ones that care. Their money is tied up in the business. This is their cash flow we are talking about here. This is their livelihood.
Generally these business owners will appreciate their dashers or any other delivery drivers making drop-offs to their customers. As mentioned earlier, with an uncertain future for all businesses, these business owners should be grateful to Doordash drivers, and I believe that the great majority of them are. Unfortunately, most owners do not spend much time at their business and pass on the responsibilities to their managers which does not work out well most of the time.
How can a Doordash driver deal with the "No Restroom" policy
What is surprising to many food delivery drivers is the bold statement that some merchants are using to make sure everybody knows not to use their restrooms. At some restaurants it seems like they have barricaded the outside of the restroom doors. In addition to a sign on the restroom door that says "Out of order" or "Restroom closed" food delivery drivers will sometimes see chairs, tables or other large objects blocking the entrance to the restroom doors. Sometimes there will even be yellow tape around the area as if there was a crime scene. It doesn't really matter if the merchant is a big chain or a small mom and pops restaurant. You see this happening at well established establishments like Chipotle, Applebees, Denny's, BJs, etc.
A great way for a Dasher to deal with the "No Restroom" policy is to not travel very far away from home. Keep your food delivery business close. Not straying more than three or four miles from home will always keep a delivery driver close enough to home in case they really need to use the restroom. Of course a driver will have to know their area good and not take calls when the delivery is far away. This method will work for most people. It may limit calls that a Dasher can accept, but it's better than being out there with no place to use the restroom.
In an emergency, where can a dasher or other delivery driver use the restroom?
A gas station is the first place that anybody is going to want to get to if they find themselves in a situation where they really really have to use the restroom. The restrooms at gas stations are generally the same as before the pandemic, and most of them are there for you if you need them.
These gas station stops can happen at any time. It can happen after a Dasher accepts a call and before they get to the merchant, or the gas station stop can happen after the food pick up and on the way to the customer to deliver. Either way the dasher should not be surprised if they start receiving a bunch of texts from the customer asking about the hold up. The customer will see the Dasher on the GPS at a stand still and may start complaining. Of course this won't happen all the time, but a Dasher should never be surprised if it does.
The worst scenario for a Dasher is when human nature is calling and there is no gas station around. A Dasher has no choice and an uncomfortable decision is going to have to be made. Going pee out in public is not what anybody wants to do, but when it's the only choice it will happen. How about number two? This can be one of the worst experiences ever for a person. Taking a dump in a back alley or on the side of a road is not an activity anybody wants to participate in.
To avoid any of this, delivery drivers should carry a bottle and a bucket with them just in case. It may sound amusing and embarrassing to a lot of people, but if ever in the situation a Dasher will be really glad that they had bottles and buckets with them. Don't forget to carry toilet paper, napkins or tissue. This may sound like a nightmare situation to some people, but it is much easier for a person to do this than have to get out of their car, make sure nobody is around and use the restroom on the street or in a parking lot somewhere.
If an individual is forced to get of their car and to find a spot, they will have to make sure they are out of sight of everybody; especially law enforcement. Even though peeing out in public is not something anybody wants to do, men will have a bit of an easier time with this than women. If a dasher is really worried about finding themselves in this situation then it would be best for them to practice the aforementioned stay close to home method.
Hopefully things will get back to normal soon and this whole restroom situation will not be a topic anymore. It's hard to believe that this pandemic has caused the lack of public restrooms available to Dashers and other delivery drivers, but it is a topic that needed to be talked about. For any dasher out there that drove around like a maniac looking for a restroom please know that you are not alone. With that said - Happy Dashing!
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