Popular burger joint Hermanos has sparked backlash after not allowing a food courier to use their bathroom while on the clock.While the establishment has since apologised for the decision, its initial response raised eyebrows, justifying the choice by saying whenever a courier uses the bathroom, staff end up having to “clean Chernobyl”.The courier’s accountThis all began yesterday when a Wolt courier, Asmin Jatt, took to Expats Malta to express his frustration at not being allowed to use the bathrooms of multiple establishments, despite being an integral part of the system delivering food from these establishments to customers.He posted the status on 12th July, saying he arrived at the Hermanos restaurant in Birkirkara to pick up a delivery, and while there, asked to use the bathroom. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)A manager, allegedly named Ricardo, said the bathrooms were only for paying customers.“So I asked the manager, ‘What are we?’ We are a medium between the restaurant and their customers. Why is it that a customer picking up food directly from the establishment can use the bathrooms but we can not?”“If a courier lives in Marsaskala or Żurrieq, is he supposed to go back home every time he needs to pee during a shift?”Jatt went on to claim that other establishments, like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC, also deny couriers access to their bathrooms. “It’s totally ridiculous,” he said.Many commenters responded sympathetically to Jatt. However, a few pointed out that this didn’t happen in a vacuum. One particular commenter wrote that Hermanos used to allow couriers to use their restrooms but stopped because “at some point they got tired of cleaning up faeces and piss puddles”.Hermanos respondsHermanos responded with a now-deleted Facebook post mocking the courier’s concerns, stating: “Every single time we let riders use our bathrooms, we end up cleaning Chernobyl.”The post condescendingly referred to Jatt as “Mr. J, courier and part-time drama queen” who had launched a “public crusade”.“Yes, the restrooms are for paying customers. Yes, we’re tired of scrubbing what looks like a horror movie scene,” the post read.It ended by saying that if couriers want to use the bathrooms, they should “grab a burger, get a drink, and eat like a king” to “earn the throne”.However, following significant public backlash, Hermanos changed its tone.In a follow-up statement, the restaurant acknowledged that couriers have “sometimes” left bathrooms in poor condition, admitting that this is a frustrating issue that needs to be addressed. However, it doesn’t “justify a loss of empathy”.“We can be firm without being arrogant. We can lead without disrespect,” read the post, signed by Hermanos CEO Vincenzo Rapisarda.He reflected on the brand’s early days, saying Hermanos started from nothing and was among the first to believe in the importance of drivers and couriers.“Without them, Hermanos wouldn’t be where it is today. That’s why, from the very beginning, we’ve always said: treat drivers with respect. Always.”Rapisarda emphasised that this respect must be upheld even when drivers are “late, stressed, or not at their best”, adding: “They’re not the enemy – they’re part of what made Hermanos.”The statement closed with a call for mutual respect and a reminder not to forget “where we came from”.Despite the softer tone, many commenters remained unsatisfied, continuing to call for a proper apology and referencing the now-deleted original post.When one commenter asked whether couriers can now use the restaurant’s bathrooms, Hermanos replied clearly: “Definitely.”Meanwhile, others have pointed out that at the core of the issue is a lack of public bathrooms for couriers to use. The argument is that no single establishment should have to become a restroom for couriers and that Malta’s infrastructure should accommodate for the many workers who require public bathrooms.•