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's not the problem for the women to solve. Women have many more issues to deal with than men. Incontinence and periods to name 2. Why should the needs of 1 new male member of staff override the needs of several women. Having myself been in this position in the past, I know only too well how difficult it can be. The terrible smell, the wet seat and floor and much worse. It's not right. This man needs to see a Doctor, or stop drinking beer and eating curry if he spends so much time in the loo. The time aline inconveniences everyone else.
Remember ladies, he is NOT your husband, brother, son, boss or responsibility. You are there to WORK, not play Nurse Kindcock to Mr Boghogger.

Hope the better extraction fan is installed quickly and makes a difference.

I didn’t want to say anything about it because a lot of people here say that if they need to go they need to go otherwise they will have an accident.
But we are in the really small building. From his office, it probably takes 5 seconds to walk to the loo in the office. He doesn’t rush and often makes a small talk. To walk to the downstairs loo, probably extra 20 seconds. You literally come out of the office door, turn left and there is a staircase going down, turn the corner and there is the loo. Downstairs office is in the opposite direction down the corridor.
So I have a really hard time to believe that people who have a bowel urgency can always find a loo within a one minute window

This is a good outcome and I hope it helps. Now maybe find something else to joke about with your colleagues.

As someone who is sensitive to smells, wouldn't you just use the disabled toilet that no one uses? I am really confused by this whole thread lol

Well there you go..you target no one..ask management to fix or upgrade the extractor fan

Well we do joke and laugh a lot as we are a good team but perhaps I used a wrong turn of the word in my post. We don’t laugh and joke about it behind his back, maybe trying to make the situation a bit lighter

If it's any reassurance, I have found people in real life to be much more understanding than this thread might suggest.

Thank you for clarifying. I sincerely hope this can be sorted for all concerned. I appreciate it's an unpleasant situation.

You could hang magic trees?

The fact he's a man is irrelevant if he has a disability. It isn't for OP or any of his colleagues to solve but it does mean that they have to tread carefully.

He may already be involved with a doctor and it may also have nothing to do with alcohol. No one knows.

Yes the not rushing and stopping to chat isn't someone with a bowel disease about to soil himself.

He is just lazy and inconsiderate. If you aren't comfortable having the conversation ask your manager to tell him to show some consideration and do the 20 sec walk to the further toilet. Ugh. If he was my dh I'd be horrified at his lack of awareness.

So far it hasn't been too bad to be fair but he's only just started his last year at primary school. I'm already dreading high school and the latter years to be honest.

I am hoping for the best for your son.

Please don't take this post as the an example of the real world. I actually worked with someone that had a problem, people realised he had a routine and we just ensured went before 10am. I am also suspecting that this post is not exactly what it seems. There are a fair few contradictions in it. For example - it's ludicrous for OP to use the disabled toilets as someone disabled may need it but it's fine for the "accused" to stink them out? Then there's the times he does or doesn't take, the naked situation and the affair, not sure if he is a manager etc.... I have read far too much on this lol

Thanks. I really appreciate it.

Why don’t you use the downstairs loo?

What are you implying? I was trying to be vague and not derail my post with irrelevant information. I’m sorry if my post sound ludicrous to you

Brilliant post! Especially the last line! Nurse Kindcock! 😂 And Mr Boghogger! 😆

It is 15 other (nearly all female) members of staff though.

So yeah, why should this ONE precious entitled man's 'needs' (or desires more like) trump those of all these women?!

.

You can’t stop someone from using the loo! Just go downstairs and use the other one.

FFS!!

😂

Why doesn't HE?

!

I think - hope - your posts are just rage bait. Because if they’re not it’s only a matter of time before you land in trouble because of your apparent lack of knowledge of the law around disability.

They sometimes can't, and then they do like I do for my family member who has bowel urgency, and carry spare trousers in the back of the car 'just in case'. Haven't needed them, but the risk is there.

I stand by my comments. Why should women "tread carefully", pussyfoot around anyone, especially a man using women's facilities, swallow their own discomfort and centre HIS needs? In essence, putting their own needs second. We will never be treated as equals at this rate.