To refuse to commute with my colleague after hire car policy changed

As the drive is essentially an extension of work, shouldn't the company arrange for each driver to take an advanced motoring course and test? This should shoot down any misogynist comments from him and inhibit his cruising behaviour. Perhaps an insurance company style black box to report back on the driver.

Yes I can probably count the number of times that I’ve farted at work on one hand too. But if I need to fart I’m afraid I don’t have the ability to hold it in until I can leave the room and I don’t believe I’m in the minority by any means. I think it’s only on Mumsnet that people would think that you can stop a sneeze or hiccup, are happy with threads where people post pictures of their intimate parts and emissions, but clutch at their pearls at the thought of a fart escaping from time to time 😆😆.

“It was an extremely formal and old fashioned local authority at that time”

Times change.

I’m conscious this is all going off track.

The point is the OP feels uncomfortable, and it’s from their colleagues actions, including the fart. The fact it’s made her uncomfortable, and through things that actually couldn’t easily be avoided whether an employment issue or not, it’s not fair, It’s not compassionate and it’s not kind.

Whether we agree/disagree with the actions, why would anyone want to make someone feel the way OP does.

Has your company not heard of Zoom or Teams?

What a waste of resources.

Absolutely agree. Why should OP have to pay for a hire car herself because he can't behave like a reasonable human being?
The car trip is essentially an extension of the workplace.
Such behaviour, once he's established that she just has to put up with it, would probably get worse. So HR needs to step in.

They will lay themselves open to a grievance on the basis of sexual harassment if they insist she keeps sharing a car with a man who has behaved like this. No sensible employer would insist on car sharing due to that risk.

I've been sitting in an office all day with dozens of other people. Not once has anyone audibly farted nor have I smelt a fart. We have all managed to spend all day together without farting in each other's company. I've worked with other people for 28 years and can count the number of times I've accidentally farted at work on one hand. Sneezing and hiccuping are genuinely involuntary. Farting, unless you have a medical condition, isn't. You may have poor control of your sphincter but I assure you you are not in the majority.

He is a disgusting mysoginist. You are not being unreasonable at all.
I take it you don't have your own car (no problem), so rely on the hire cars when you need to commute. You will need to tell them you need your own and say exactly why. And no negotiations or offers to 'talk to him'. Why should you be put through that?

Those two were but the most prolific farter I can recall at work was a woman.

All men, out of interest?

Is it possible that the other colleague has got out of going because of this grub’s detestable behaviour?

A fart contains gas that's been sat marinading around faeces. Why would anyone wish to share that!?!?
Who are these children without control of their anal sphincter? It's rarely accidental- it's a conscious message saying you can enjoy the smell of my shit because I wish to disrespect you

On a couple of occasions it was the Director of Education who farted loudly in a meeting. Another time, the Chair of the Education Committee let rip in a public meeting. It was an extremely formal and old fashioned local authority at that time. Unfortunately I was sitting next to him and as well as nearly being gassed, I got a fit of the giggles.

Sorry not the point of the thread but do people REALLY struggle to hold in farts? I’ve never had a problem, neither has my dh.

Much more senior to you means nothing to me.
Are you a director and the managing director let rip in front of you?

Every SMT and Director boards I’ve been on, it’s never happened as an example.

Maybe in a room a “lads” this would happen, doesn’t mean everyone appreciates it, and in all my time in the forces it never happened in meetings… the mess, the barracks, yes…

Totally agree - it is not acceptable to be expected to travel with someone from the dark ages.

Report - Report - Report

Definitely NBU.
Put all of this in writing to HR.
He may end up with more problems than your imaginary poor driving - serves the twat right though.

I can hold in farts but not sure it is good for you. Plus they can come back with a vengance later.

If you are in an office/meeting you can politely excuse yourself or walk away to the toilet or a quiet area which I suspect many polite people do.

If you are in a car not sure you have much choice other than to stop the car which may not be possible in time.

So I think really you have to allow that one to pass (maybe quite literally).

This is sexual harassment even if it's not directed at you personally.

i the comments on your driving is sex discrimination.

you need to report that.

Good lord I certainly could - but I wouldn't need to because I could hold it til the meeting ended or broke for coffee.

I'd never considered that I might be a world champion fart holder but hey, maybe I have a whole new career ahead of me!

If that comment is aimed at me, I’m afraid I’ve never heard of Jackson Lamb or Slough House.

Your colleague is Jackson Lamb and you both work at Slough House.

I claim my £5.

I’ve been in work situations when people much more senior than me have farted occasionally. I can also remember several occasions in the early days of the lockdown, when using Zoom was still very new to most of my work colleagues, when someone let rip, not realising that the sound was picked up and the window round their picture lit up 😆😆. As I’ve said earlier, I agree that it is usually (but not always) possible to let a fart out quietly, but I don’t think most people could possibly hold one in for long enough to excuse themselves from a meeting, walk to the nearest toilet, and then let it out. But then again, this is Mumsnet 😆

Wow