Is it seen to BU to go to the toilet at work?

[KittySocks]

Posting here for traffic. In the office this morning, there were 2 members of my team having a moan. Essentially, someone had gone to the toilet and had sprayed some of the provided air freshener. Staff member moans that the staff member in question should have waited until they got home before they "stink out the work toilets".

Staff members in question are mid 20s. It started a stupid debate in the office and basically, the older generation see no issue with going to the toilets at work. Younger generation claim they would be mortified and state they would not poop at work!

Is it a generational thing then? I'm of the mindset, if you have to go, you have to go!

YABU - Get a grip - poop away
YANBU - Gross! Hold it in until you get home!

If you had Crohn’s or similar you would, love.

There’s nowt as funny as folk.

Nice one 😆

Wtf

Holding in a bowel movement when there is a clean, safe toilet provided is actual sheer fucking stupidity.

The problem is shared toilets imho. We need proper individual cubicles. Obviously, when you have to poo you have to poo but on the other hand, who wants to be in the same room as a colleague while they take a shit (or vice Versa). We spend so much time and effort maintaining a professional front at work and then there we are, trousers down, inches away from each other pooping. It IS weird!

There was a young woman in our work who came back from the loos declaring someone had shit in the work toilets and how it was smelly and disgusting it was they did that at work.

It was a pretty hilarious conversation with most older women pissing themselves (as we oldies do) with laughter and the younger women on the fence keeping their heads down when she was desperately looking for back up. I think she left it "educated".

Well, that would depend, wouldn’t it? Firstly, it would depend if you were ill or had some issue. In that case, yes, you might need to go at work. If you had a need to go at, say 4pm, you might be able to hold on.

But my post wasn’t aimed at people with bowel problems or who are pregnant or have something that causes them issues. It was aimed at people who don’t go in the morning and then need to go at work - simply because they either couldn’t be arsed to get up earlier to go, or because they think that you’re supposed to just go along through the day, wait till you feel you’re about to explode and only then realise you need a poo, meaning they need to go at work/at a friend’s house. Poor planning.

Mainly it’s not wanting to get up earlier, I think.

It's the lack of privacy that's the problem. I hate communal toilets.

@ohlookimbackagain For me, it’s so that the people you work with day to day aren’t around / the people on that floor don’t know you. I work in an office with about 600 people in it.

The amount of ridicule colleagues (mostly men) gave people for using the loo in my first job (20 years ago!) basically put me off acknowledging I had any bodily functions at all! I have been known to drive home at lunch!

They would never cope where I work!
Most people announce when they are going for a dump and bowel movements both regular and irregular are discussed with great frequency.

Mumsnet, I like that! I had just over 50 miles each way commute,12.5 hour night shift (nursing,) several times I ended up with a UTI, because there was no time to get a drink,or pee

I'd really rather go at home, but if I have to go, I'll do so - but it's definitely not a regular occurrence.

So how do you know if someone has a bowel condition or if you have to judge them for being lazy by not crapping before work? Do you request a medical chart before you start bitching and judging?

I generally can't go more than a few hours without needing to go so I definitely ain't waiting until I get home. I try not to poo in the loo in the changing room though, because so often someone will come in and I'd feel like I'd have to apologise for the smell so I go to the toilet that's rarely used, or the one that the blokes use (its not the men's toilet, its the break room toilet but only the blokes use it as we prefer our own toilet in the changing room) as they seem to have zero issues with this (some even going so far as to declare that they're going for a shit)

@Fecked I’m sure! I actually just dropped a friend off at the hospital for her infusion for Crohn’s this morning. It’s wretched and I have nothing but sympathy for anyone dealing with it.

I agree with PPs that the lack of privacy is the primary issue. Cubicles that don’t have floor to ceiling walls and doors (not to mention the gap along the side of the door) make it twice as uncomfortable.

I think this is a generational thing. Poo when you need to poo. That’s what a toilet is for. They are naive to think 💩doesn’t stink, I’m sure they don’t smell like flowers.

This. How judgemental to say that basically everyone should be able to hold it in. Are people really that naieve

Because the very, very few people who had to go over the years actually said, eg that they had an upset stomach or whatever.

One woman we knew of in a nearby office openly talked about having a crap at work and laughed about it. She used to go in different toilets and boast how she’d stunk them out. She definitely didn’t have any medical issues.

The wincyette brigade. How on earth do they deal with fanny farts during sex? They probably just combust and are never seen again.

Do you really have that poor reading comprehension? Bless 😘

worse event was in a double cubicle , i looked up at the ceiling, and the light cover was broken, just leaving chrome, and i could see the person sitting on the loo in the cubicle next to me
no poo involved though

If you need to go then you need to go. Toilets are for shitting in.

Your colleagues sound immature and dim. They are in a way discriminating against those with bowel conditions. Bully for them and their perfectly behaved bowels. Not all of us are that lucky.

If it was only for no.1 then men's toilets would just be urinals so obviously toilets are for both.

I do know someone who 'can't' poo at work because of a shy bowel.

All I can think is thank fuck I work in a workplace with people sensible enough not to moan about normal toilet smells. That would be considered really poor form where I work and I can't imagine anyone ever doing it (and nor have I come across it and I have worked there 20 years!). Although our workplace is civilised and the toilets are well away from the office, so any toilet smells stay in the toilets and no chance of reaching the office.

I mean I wouldn't poo at work if I could help it, but if you have to go, you have to go...

Has no one told these twats young people that holding your poo in regularly is not good for you?

I will go if I absolutely cannot wait but in most cases, I’d leave work early. My house is only a 10 min bus journey from work so I could make it in time!

There’s nothing wrong with doing a poo at work, we all have to do it somewhere. I can only go at my house (not even a hotel) and I’m a bit paranoid for some reason. I shouldn’t be because it’s normal but I can’t help it!