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.

That would not be compliant with regulations. As there are more than five female employees, there must be at least two toilets available for use by them (the disabled toilet can be counted towards the total).

The arrangement described is compliant, just, but falls down in the ventilation department. It's an issue for facilities management, not HR, and not the annoying colleague.

Just tell them: 'the toilet and office smell. Sort it out.'

The op wants him to use the other toilet. Not the one adjacent to the work area where theyre engulfed in his poo whiffs.

Why shouldn't he go downstairs to the loo? I've worked in many places where you have to walk to a bathroom. Unless he's 90 and frail it really should not be a problem.

Was just trying to think of a way to resolve the situation with least path of resistance! Maybe the downstairs disabled toilet could be labelled as ‘disabled/gender neutral’. All our disabled toilets at work are gender neutral. Anyone can use them.

From the way OP had written her post it appeared that there were 15 women and 1 man upstairs. I could be wrong!

Anyway. Putting signs on the toilets as I’ve suggested would make the man with the poo issue go downstairs. It’s that or tell him to use the toilet downstairs. Which everyone seems reluctant to do.

This one man is inconveniencing everyone, it’s either split the loos between men/women upstairs and downstairs or carry on as they are.

If he has bowel urgency that's not going to be feasible. OP should leave it to facilities management to sort it out. Maybe once they investigate they'll suggest that problem colleague moves downstairs so he can be near the disabled toilet. But OP shouldn't be getting into it, because bullying, disability discrimination etc etc.

If there are fewer than six men they could make upstairs 'ladies' and downstairs 'disabled/gender neutral' and be compliant with regulations. That doesn't solve his bowel urgency problem, if it exists.

Leave it to facilities management!

For some people, walking downstairs isn't an option. It's either the nearest toilet or soil themselves. So yes, it could be a problem.

We don't know if he has 'bowel urgency'. He's probably just inconsiderate and lazy.

She initially says she works in an office that's mostly women and she doesn't mind sharing a toilet with men which suggests there are other men. But then later she talks about there being 15 women. So who knows (apart from OP, obviously). 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well a possible answer to that has been suggested multiple times. But I'm sure how that is relevant to my questions.

We don't know that he's inconsiderate or lazy. He might well have bowel urgency.

See how that works both ways? Why are so many people on this thread determined to think the worst of him (rhetorical)?

No, and 'we' aren't entitled to know: that's the whole point. And what's with the scare quotes?

Ikr! OP cannot tackle this problem by tackling him. The only route is through a complaint about their working conditions. They are entitled to well-ventilated facilities and a pleasant working environment. .

I once worked with someone who had terrible B.O. Really unpleasant. I had similar excuses from colleagues then oh maybe he can't do his washing, maybe he doesn't have the energy, maybe he has medical problems that makes him smell.
He was just lazy and inconsiderate. Once told that everyone was sick of being subjected to the overpowering smell he developed the ability to wash himself and his clothes.

So yes fine op's colleague may have complex illnesses and potential soiling issues but I'd go for the most simplest explanation first, he cba to go further to a loo and he thinks his poo whiff doesn't overpower everyone. Once told that it is a problem he'll hopefully make an effort.

You can all use that one or get your manager to have a word with the toilet blocker as you all are being inconvinienced

Oh stop it!!!!!!!!!!
If he is THAT disabled, he can use the .......disabled loo cant he? AN have it all to his little self

Hope this helps!

For those of you who aren't getting the message: SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOWEL URGENCY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF WALKING TO THE DISABLED TOILET. THEY HAVE TO USE THE NEAREST.

Hope this helps!

Just do it. He doesn't seem to care about you and the other women does he?

People are suggesting medical issues because of the frequency he needs to go. While not unheard of, going 4+ times a day would be quite unusual for someone with no underlying conditions.

We have exactly the same problem in our office, but the offending party likes to leave skid marks for us too..there is no solution.. we just grit our teeth and bear it 😭

Oh give it a rest. Its a bloke who literally doesn't give a SHIT about his shit HTH

Do you know him?

They can take basic steps to minimise the impact, such as closing the door so the smell is contained.

There was a thread about a man who used a toilet whilst collecting his daughter from work, which seemed to be someone doing so because his smell was offensive to those in his own home. I do wonder if one of the visits could be avoided if said man used the toilet before coming to work.

No, I won't give it a rest.
I struggle with my bowels. It's either go to the nearest toilet or shit myself.
HTH. 🙄

Its a bloke innit