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.

He may have ibs or crones etc, or a stoma. However he also may have that strange habit some men have (my stepdad for one) where they will sit and marinade in their poo smell for ages before flushing. That's why the smell is so strong. My stepdad does it at my mums and the smell literally crawls down the stairs, it feels like entering another atmosphere when walking up them after. I think he looks at his phone in there.

Perhaps a sign inside saying please flush toilet immediately after use as ventilation is poor and odours are extending into the office, anonymous and for everyone so he won't feel targeted.

There is not 1 loo, there are 2.

If you need the toilet and don’t want to go within the 30mins after he’s used it, then use the second one.

You either find it a problem or you don’t.

My husband had bowel cancer a few years ago and trying to adjust after surgery was really hard. He had all those same concerns and it really knocked his confidence.

These threads are always full of people who apparently have complete control over every bodily function and shit roses. Lucky them!

Gossiping women living up to their stereotype. So bothered by the smell not one of them is doing anything practical. Sorry if that affects your sensitivities.

Not that secluded ! You said that everyone can hear someone in there.

I'm also unsure as to whether it's legal to have just one toilet for 15 people .

There's a small extractor fan which doesn't work properly so is no good.

Take steps via HR to get decent toilets before berating the man.

Have you always been good at counting?

😉

So then the person with a disibility has to wait for 30 minutes for poo man?

No.

Ask management to sort the extractor fan. Utilise the other toilet yourselves for a quick wee.

It sounds like he doesn't realise he's been causing a problem. It may be a bit embarrassing for him to know that you've all complained about it, but he'll probably quickly change his ways (i.e. use the loo downstairs) and he'll never mention it. The letter or email can be kindly worded - it doesn't have to be accusatory or aggressive.

So someone saw him naked, and that’s why he’s in your office 3-4 days a week…?! Tell us more.. misses point of thread

There are two loos but OP is too lazy to walk to the second one.

I asked the same. Bit of a drip feed there, although not sure why it's relevant.

Apparently a lot better than OP is! 😂

Is there a window in the disabled loo / better extractor fan? A decent extractor fan should clear the air but it could be yours is blocked / broken / a bit rubbish. I’d ask if IIt could be checked / repaired and in the meantime a sign could go up everyone who needs a number two use the downstairs loo.

I’ve worked in an office before where it was pretty normal for the close loos to be wees only. I think there were forty of us and two loos. There was another two loos further away. Im pretty sure it was described as a preference on induction day.

Everyone can hear it in the office loo! Disabled loo is out of the way in the secluded part of the building with no office or kitchen near it

But presumably it is the loo that those people working downstairs use? And you said this guy is in there for 10 minutes and then it's unusable for 30 mins after. So my question stands. Why it this ok for people downstairs and not you? Is it just because there aren't as many of them?

It seems likely this man has some sort of medical/digestive issues. What if he can't actually make it downstairs in time?

Also, how does someone else (in a different office?) seeing him naked mean you are sure he doesn't have a stoma? How far have discussions about his bowel habits gone?

Why dont you all use the downstairs loo ?

Apologies if already mentioned. Could poo pourri/pooper swooper/lu mist/pre poop help?
VI poo spray etc
all donate bottles & leave it in the loo’s
The Zoflora products are strong. Maybe that too.
I used to be a nurse and was taught to sniff the smell up quick. You get used to it. What else can you do.

There is no window in the downstairs loo but you are right that extractor is better and the room is much bigger ( idk if that makes difference). Office loo is tiny and it has small extractor fan on the ceiling. We will talk to the management about extractor fan today.

"sign could go up everyone who needs a number two use the downstairs loo"

@Secretseverywhere No. This is extremely unfair to anyone who experiences bowel urgency.

In this situation, where the company has at least 16 people working and only two loos, it would be highly inappropriate to stop people using both loos. the company would be in breach of requirements if it didn't have at least two loos available for that number of workers.

We have 2 separate toilet cubicles in my work corridor. Both are self contained rooms and are unisex. It’s not that unusual. I work for the NHS so not exactly a small company unaware of legal obligations.

I don’t think expecting him to use the disabled loo on another floor is appropriate. If he does have a medical issue he may have issues with urgency and if has to go elsewhere it could cause further issues even more unpleasant for both you and him!!!!

So one person uses the upstairs toilet and 15 others use the downstairs?

I used to be a nurse. I was taught that you have to sniff it up quick then you just get used to the smell. What else can you do.
VI poo spray, there’s lots of products like this poo pourri - just donate it and leave it in the loo’s.
Zoflora is strong. Might help.

It’s not a drip feed. I said numerous times that he doesn’t have a stoma and it’s irrelevant how I know it. Some people would not take that for an answer

For 15 people (6-25) range you should have two toilets but the disabled toilet is allowed to be counted so itd meet HSE requirements.