A couple of Elections Canada temporary workers are calling on the agency to overhaul its labour standards after describing their working conditions during advance polls in Toronto as "awful" and "intolerable."

"It was absolutely terrible," said Kathy Friedman, who worked at a polling station in the University-Rosedale riding.

Workers say they were not allowed to take meal or washroom breaks during the four days of advance polling. There are also complaints that polls in Toronto were understaffed, and even ran out of ballots.

The complaints come after a crush of voters descended on polls across the country. Elections Canada says 71 per cent more ballots were cast compared to the 2011 advance polls.

Friedman says she was given no time to take breaks during shifts that lasted about 10 hours. She says her returning officer also threatened to withhold three days of pay after Friedman asked to take a break.

Another worker who spoke to CBC News on the condition of anonymity said her Toronto-St Paul's station was so understaffed that the polls were forced to close when even a single worker left for a break.

"We were totally taken advantage of," the worker said. "This is like what they do to people to make them want to quit."

Staff surprised by work conditions

Friedman says she was surprised to learn her temporary employment with Elections Canada did not include the allowances for breaks and overtime pay that are required in other forms of employment.

"I would like to know why they're not subject to the labour standards that I'm used to," she said.

Unlike federal employees who work "under the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada," federal election workers are not covered by the labour standards section in the Canada Labour Code.

In a statement to CBC News, Elections Canada would not comment on specific complaints, but said "it may not be possible for the election officer to take a break at any time he wishes, especially if a large number of electors present themselves to vote."

"High turnout during the advance polls this past weekend put additional stress on election workers beyond what was expected," the agency added.

Elections Canada 'like a fox in the hen house'

A Toronto labour lawyer says the stressful work conditions could have been avoided with better planning, and he highlighted the need for more oversight.

"Elections Canada shouldn't be responsible for the labour standards of their workers," said Andrew Langille. "It needs to go to a third-party agency like the Labour Program, that can investigate complaints and possibly fine Elections Canada if there are breaches."

"It sounds a bit like a fox in the hen house situation," he said.

The worker at the Toronto-St. Paul's polling station put it more bluntly: "They're setting the labour laws and they're breaking the labour laws."

Langille says Elections Canada workers who feel they've been mistreated could find recourse through the courts, or even the Canadian Human Rights Act, although short-term, temporary employees might be less likely to pursue legal action.

"The positions are quite precarious, and often it doesn't provide the workers with a lot of power," Langille said.

Elections Canada says it is working to improve conditions in its polling stations and thanked its election workers for their dedication and patience.

"Difficult working conditions have been a source of concern for the Chief Electoral Officer; an issue that was raised several times in reports to Parliament," the agency said.