Loo issue in the office

[Standingupstream]

NC for this..
I work in an office with mainly women. There is one man who is senior to us, although he isn’t our manager, and he only started coming over to our office a few months ago.We only have one loo that we all share, and before he started working in our office, this was never an issue.
Now, about 30 minutes after arriving, he disappears into the loo for ages. When he finally comes out, the smell is absolutely suffocating. There’s no window, in the loo and the air fresheners just seem to make the whole thing even more vomit-inducing.
Then, a couple of hours later, he goes again. And again after lunch. And usually once more in the afternoon. This happens pretty much every time he’s in the office, which is around 3–4 days a week.
It has now become a running joke amongst us. If someone needs the loo and it’s occupied, we ask ( other people ) if it’s him, because we all know there’s absolutely no point even attempting to go in for at least half an hour. 😂
My DH actually uses a different loo at home because I hate a poo-smelling bathroom, but obviously if it happens occasionally I’m not exactly precious about it because he’s my DH. I just find it rather gross being subjected to this at work by a man I barely know. 😂

The problem is, we genuinely don’t know what to do about it. How on earth do you approach a grown man about the fact that his toilet habits are basically fumigating the entire office, without completely humiliating him?!
I actually started to worry if he has some serious stomach issues. That would be actually completely different matter.
How would you approach it? Or should we just leave it. We are becoming very cross about it.

A year ago I would have been annoyed on your behalf. However after emergency surgery I have been left with a stoma. I've learnt the hard way that you never know what people are dealing with. It could be he has a stoma and needs to empty his bag throughout the day. Just wanted to give you a different perspective.

Yep, i was going to say a stoma bag

It seems very very unlikely he is deliberately causing a smell. Assuming he is flushing the loo, then no you can't say anything to him.

What would you say anyway "hi Steve, we have decided that your poo smells so you'll need to go home every time you need to use the toilet"?

You don't know what medical issues someone might have and you don't have any right to know either.

He doesn’t have stoma but he could have different issue. That’s why we are unsure how to approach it or we should leave it. There is another loo which is downstairs and it’s disable friendly loo but he doesn’t use it

Your post is really horrible op. Some people have medical issues, stoma, diverticulitis, ibs, etc and you are embarrassing yourself with your ignorance.

Your office needs more toilets

Well obviously you don’t approach it.

If he’s going that often he probably has IBS and there’s nothing he can do about it.

So your office loo is used by both sexes? How many people use it? I would be asking your management why they are not providing separate toilets/bathrooms for men and women. I have worked in both large and small offices and gave never seen mixed sex toilets. Especially given some men’s habits, like this colleague. Which should be mentioned to managenent when you say they need to provide separate toilets. I thought there was legislation on this? (in the uk anyway.)Even if he was one man in an office with a dozen women he should have s separate toilet.

Well there you are then.

You can use that loo so what’s the problem?

Of course, he may have medical issues that mean he needs to use the facility frequently and for a longer period of time. But that shouldn’t prevent him from having the courtesy to leave the place ready for the next user.

Maybe ask if some signs can be put up in the toilet reminding people to leave it clean and fresh smelling after use. Ensure appropriate cleaning items etc are available. Maybe a strong scented reed diffuser on the cistern, too?

He's not doing anything on purpose he's using the toilet for it's purpose. Does yours smell like flowers? 🙄

How on earth do you know that he doesn’t have a stoma?

Ask HR if an extractor fan can be fitted in the wall if possible?

You really can't target someone if they are using a toilet for it's exact purposes...if the gossiping escalates that could be seen as problematic

I forgot to mention in my original post there is another loo on the ground floor which is disabled loo. All of us in the office just use the loo in the office, about 15 people. I don’t mind sharing with the men but would you suggest that maybe he could use the downstairs loo? I am obviously aware he might have some condition and I made that clear in the OP. The question is that would you say something or just leave it? So please don’t jump on me about different medical conditions because I understand that!

Op you clearly don't.

We left some sachets in the loo. You supposed to put them in the loo before you go and it somehow doesn’t let the smell leave the bowl. He never used them so I don’t know if it works. There are signs everywhere saying to make sure loo is ready for the next user

There is an extractor fan but it doesn’t seem to work

Just use the loo downstairs if there’s another option 🤷‍♀️

OP I genuinely feel for you.
I’m very sensitive to smells and I’d really struggle in your situation but I honestly don’t think there’s anything you could do.
No matter which way you approach this, he’ll end up humiliated and it’ll cause a horrible environment for everyone to work in.
buy some poo-pouri spray and spray it in the loo throughout the day.

Well this is the issue then, not the poor man who needs to use the loo. You are targeting your thoughts in the wrong direction.
Get your employer to fix the fan.

Ok so you are seriously suggesting 15 woman using disabled loo because one man who might have some condition won’t?
I will relay that at work and I hope people who actually need to use disabled loo won’t be annoyed waiting

Anonymous email (create a random Gmail one) to either him or HR. Get Chat GPT to write it so that it can’t be traced to you.

Why aren't you using the downstairs toilet?

A lavatory should be equipped with an extractor fan that works. Why isn't yours?

Is this one of these oft cited 'poo trolls'.
If anyone is pooing 4 times a day it means something is wrong.
You surely know that OP?