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!

😂😂

Colitis sufferer here. Aye, I stink but it's either poop in the toilet or poop my pants at my desk which noone wants. I wouldn't spray freshener though as it always makes the smell worse, a cracked window will do the job better and those nasty sprays can be a problem for asthma sufferers etc.

We are pretty much all based from home now, but pre-pandemic, it was definitely frowned upon by many if anyone had a shit at work. There was one woman who did it daily and everyone used to moan about her.

But some people can’t help it if they have bowel issues, I guess.

I am ridiculously sensitive about foul smells and will retch if I go to a loo where someone has had a stinky shit. I realise this is my problem!

I’m mid 50s and can count on one hand the number of poos I’ve ever had at work!!

We are pretty much all based from home now, but pre-pandemic, it was definitely frowned upon by many if anyone had a shit at work. There was one woman who did it daily and everyone used to moan about her.

You were all bullying her.

YANBU I don’t think it’s necessary to go at work!!!

I'm feeling like an anthropologist colliding with the customs of a strange and different culture. I am no spring chicken, and it had never occurred to me in my entire life that there might be a taboo about using the loo for all its appropriate purposes in a work situation. Mind you, our data sample is probably 99% female; it would be interesting to see if a significant number of men felt just as squeamish as many of the PP here do on this matter.

If you need to go, you need to go. It is very very bad not to go if you need. Can cause all sorts of problems over the years.

I do understand as I feel embarrassed if I have to go somewhere public, so I do tend to wait until the Ladies is empty while I'm in a cubicle - or put loo paper into the loo first so that it doesn't make a noise if the place is busy, but no way would I hold it for hours until I get home.

It's a natural function at the end of the day

Grow the fuck up.

come on if you dont do it before work, sometimes you need to do it at work.
some of us have to travel to work

toliets are provided at work and are there to be used. As long as they are being used for their designated purpose no one has any cause to complain. if you want to wait until you are home - up to you - but in my opinion its not a healthy way to manage your bowels and at its extreme may develop into a phobia.

I have had c20 bowel polyps removed in three colonoscopies in 7-20 months. Plus had gallbladder removed 11 years ago.

i cannot hold it in for long. The warnings have decreased in time.

I think it’s a generational thing. A colleague of a similar age to OP says she couldn’t do a poo at work.

Just they wait til they have digestion issues!

As long as you do a courtesy flush it’s fine! It’s not good for you to hold it in.

The Poo Troll must be loving all these stories, bloody hell people.

And in other news the OP hasn't come back - maybe they're in the toilet?

I’m so odd, I can only do a wee at work if no other cubicles are occupied. If someone else comes in, I have to stop mid flow and go back later! So the idea of having a shit is just beyond impossible.

Thankfully, I have a very cooperative bowel that never moves unless I’m at home (or in a nice hotel!).

We are pretty much all based from home now, but pre-pandemic, it was definitely frowned upon by many if anyone had a shit at work. There was one woman who did it daily and everyone used to moan about her.
**
Thats ridiculous

I never poo in public loos. Or at other people’s homes. I can at home or in a hotel but outside of that I just can’t. I definitely couldn’t at work unless it was an absolute emergency, in which case I’d go to another floor or a lesser-used loo.

TBH, I hate even going at home if my DP is at home. I usually wait until he’s gone out.

I do carry Poo Pourri with me in my handbag!

in which case I’d go to another floor or a lesser-used loo.
what difference does being on another floor make? (genuine question)

You must have some serious bladder control. My body would let me piss myself, fully clothed, in a room full of people. No choice in the matter!

This is really quite a pathetic discussion. The real question is why is it such an issue for so many women? Guaranteed it doesn’t even enter the headspace of the majority of men. You go when you need to go, and wouldn’t think twice about if it’s at work or not. And it doesn’t need justifying with comments on medical conditions or what if’s - it’s perfectly acceptable to go at work, and that’s that.

I will always try as i struggle to even wee at work, but having ibs sometimes i cannot!

I wonder if it's just women that even think to consider any of that.

I think there are always people who are thick, of any generation, and if they haven’t experienced bowel disease, they probably can’t stretch their minds enough to understand the concept.

Exactly this. Can you imagine men getting hung up about this issue?
And I don't understand the 'unless you've got serious issues you can hold it' brigade; I don't but I can't! It's much easier to hold a wee IME.

A former colleague would not use any lavatory but her own. She lived a 15 minute bus ride away from work and went home every lunchtime to pee. She went away for a holiday in Brighton with her husband and didn't use the loo for 3 days. Cut holiday short and returned to London before she exploded. Yearned to visit Paris but couldn't do it. Felt very sorry for her, very stressful for her and family.