Colleague behaving in a foul manner - is this really an excuse?

[Obnoxiouswork]

One of my colleagues in her mid-40’s has started breaking wind in front of others on the team. This is in meeting rooms and in our break out area. She isn’t hiding it and just says ‘oh that’s the joys of peri’. I did jokingly suggest she could be the first person taken to HR for this and she matter of factly said that they wouldn’t dare get involved when it’s peri related.

Is this really an acceptable reason in your view?! I have changed my name because I’ve given a clue as to my company in a previous post.

Peri my arse ( no pun intended) Its performative farting 😠 disgusting she should either do it in the bogs or clench her arse cheeks together. Get a grievance lodged with HR

She might be farting more because of peri and having less control. But it sounds like she's not even trying to be discreet, nor apologising at all.

Are they smelly or just noisy? Because if the former that's unpleasant not just annoying, I don't think she's as immune as she thinks.

I have a double prolapse, which has caused continence issues and unfortunately there are times when I break wind with no warning. I wish I could leave the room, I also wish the earth would open and swallow me up but neither of those scenarios will be happening any time soon so I just have to live with the embarrassment of it.

🤣the phantom farter

Anxiety, hot flushes, insomnia are not just peri....they go on (and on and on) well into menopause

Yes of course, I’m just saying they aren’t just menopause because the symptoms start way before a year after your last period

I agree. It’s big business and people are still saying “nobody talks about it” which couldn’t be further from the truth. It seems that every woman over about 37 claims to be in peri. And your colleague’s farting is grim and since when does perimenopause equal uncontrolled flatulence?

Please excuse my ignorance but wtf is peri?

I chose unreasonable. A) she likely has another reason for farting in public and you're being unreasonable talking about it and bringing attention to it. B) no one should have to sit in pain or mess about going to the bathroom constantly just to expel gas, which might dissipate (temporarily) by the time she even gets there. C) we need to normalise farting and burping in public anyway. Sick of being in pain and uncomfortable for no reason. Other animals don't worry about this and defecate in public too. Just be glad she isn't doing that.

Everyone else blasts out music, vapes, talks loudly, takes video calls.. all in public. Let's normalise farting in their faces as we walk past them off the bus or train. I vote yes.

A fart troll playing the long game would say that, though

As an Occ Health nurse this is not an OH issue. Speak to your manager who should have a discreet word and suggest she sees her GP - Occ health don't diagnose and will guide her to her GP in the first instance. Even if she is perimenopausal there may be something the GP can do, and like you have said - she may need investigations to ensure it isn't something else that can be treated.

She probably has IBS.

I've definitely found my IBS has a hormonal element and I'm gassier now I'm perimenopausal than I was. HRT has helped though.