Everybody poops.
It is just a natural part of life.
But some people’s #2 can be too much to handle, particularly in the workplace.
Redditor stribalibalib wanted to discuss their experience and get some feedback, so naturally, they came to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subreddit.
They asked:
“AITA for asking a coworker not to use the bathroom in my office?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I work in a school (not as a teacher) where my designated workspace/office is a former teacher workroom.”
“Having a traditional office wasn’t working because I was constantly having to find a larger space to do my job, so my admin moved me a few years ago.”
“I love having the space, and it comes with the benefits of a printer and a bathroom.”
“I have never been a gatekeeper of the space and don’t mind when nearby staff members need to use it even though there’s another workroom a few doors down.”
“I have one coworker who frequently (several times per week) uses the bathroom.”
“Not to be crude, but the smell she leaves behind is toxic.”
“I have put air fresheners in the bathroom and bought a bottle of potpourri, but it doesn’t help.”
“I genuinely think she needs to see a doctor.”
“We are both 12-month employees, so no summers off, and the heat has not helped with this issue.”
“I pulled her aside last week and explained that I would appreciate it if she found an alternative location to do her business.”
“I’m fully aware that everybody poops, but that is my designated workspace, and I don’t want to have to smell it all day, especially when there are other bathrooms on campus that aren’t somebody’s office.”
“She got upset and told some of our coworkers that I was singling her out and not letting her use the bathroom.”
“Some of them agree with me because they have smelled the aftermath, and some of them think I should have taken a different approach (asked for a different workspace/asked for more air fresheners, etc).”
The OP was left to wonder:
“So AITA for asking that she use a different restroom?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared that OP was NOT the A**hole.
“Start saying you feel unwell when she poops.”
“Go to management and say the stench is unbearable and is making you want to vomit.”
“Beg them that if there’s any way for them to redirect people who want to do number 2 away from your working space as this is affecting your job.” ~ SafeWord9999
“I once worked in an environment where about 12 us all worked in a bungalow (basically a small house) with one bathroom within a much larger work campus.”
“The plumbing was terrible so after just one mishap, the team quickly made a rule that the bungalow bathroom was for #1 only and if you had to go #2, you had to walk down to the larger multi-stall bathrooms that were more public and opened into the air instead of being in a common room.”
“We called it walking the brown mile, and it sure saved a lot of tension.” ~ Joessandwich
“Many companies have a ‘no scent’ policy because of people with allergies.”
“Tell the bosses that you are sensitive to bathroom smells, and it is physically impacting your ability to work.”
“You didn’t want to say anything before as a courtesy to your coworkers and the potential damage to relationships you’ve built.”
“However, you can no longer just deal with it.”
“I would also add that the sensitivity of your work and how it is used by anyone could lead to a breach of privacy.”
“You are required to protect the information so constant access and having to leave the office due to the smells makes it more challenging to hold to those standards.”
“Put this all together, and it might have more impact.”
“Lay out all of the reasons together why this can no longer be the status quo.” ~ LadyFett555
“NTA. The coworker is weird.”
“My entire working career, if I’ve had to take a dump at work, I’ve sought out a toilet as far away from others as possible.”
“I try to regulate my body so that I only have to do it at home.”
“Don’t get me wrong, if I have to go I’ll use whatever’s available.”
“But this coworker has the option of another bathroom a few doors down which does not have a door opening into someone’s office.”
“And presumably also does not have someone trying to work directly outside the door.” ~ StuffIanWrote
“I cannot even imagine being so brazen as to go into someone’s private workspace and take a dump.”
“I mean, everybody poops, but I would be so embarrassed to subject someone to that even once much less day after day!”
“If it was an absolute emergency, I would be apologizing the whole time and would probably bring them a coffee or muffin the next morning with more apologies.” ~ slowasaspeedingsloth
“I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“I’d have just put an ‘out of order’ sign on the door and put some toilet paper in the toilet to make it look stopped up.”
“Get a plunger and leave it in the bowl for good measure.”
“Put a little and some toilet paper on the floor.”
“Just say you think it’s low on their ‘fix it’ list since there’s another down the hall.”
“If anyone were to ask, just deny.”
“It has been stopped up for a while but the plug must have dissolved over time. lol.” ~ Kathywasright
“So a coworker just comes and takes a dump in your bathroom without permission?”
“You’re absolutely NTA.” ~ Bald_and_Important_3
“Sometimes hurting feelings isn’t always avoidable.”
“If you were sensitive about it, and you have the authority to close off the bathroom to others, I’ll go with NTA.”
“She made the choice to take what could have been a private conversation and brought others into it.”
“It would have probably been better to just ‘close’ that bathroom for everyone, but hindsight is 20/20, especially if there is another more public one just a few doors down.”
“You didn’t know how she would react.” ~ Playful_Fan4035
“I’d probably make a poster for the wall.”
“Smells in this small space can linger, so to help make my work day brighter.”
“Before you get down to business please be sure and spray some potpourri in the toilet.”
“If you have a large workload, maybe a flush midway through can dissipate any unnecessary side effects.” ~ Which-Category5523
“NTA. Just invite anybody who agrees with her to your office next time she does her business.”
“Even she has to notice how awful her poop smells.”
“It’s up to her not to bother other people with the smell and figure out a solution.”
“It’s like farting in somebody’s office when you KNOW it’s gonna be a bad one.”
“You just find another way…”
“She was obviously using ‘your’ bathroom because it’s more private, and she does feel ashamed if everybody smells it.” ~ Illustrious-Tap5791
“NTA, but I would probably suggest she go to a doctor because you’re worried about her, and that might embarrass her enough not to come back.” ~ Character-Twist-1409
“NTA- I have I[rritable] B[owel] S[yndrome], and every time I use the bathroom at work after 1 coworker comes out, it is always her.”
“The smell is so awful, and I make people gag when I fart when I’m feeling funky.”
“After a week of everyone at work going omg who’s dropping bombs in there she got upset and yelled out everyone poops, it’s a normal thing I may have slipped up and said see a doctor that smell isn’t normal.”
“Our boss is concerned because she has also had the unfortunate experience of the smell no spray helps it’s like if burnt hair and diapers had a baby.” ~ purplebearcat
“NTA. I would have been mortified to be on either end of this conversation.”
“Your complaint is valid, and I can’t imagine further embarrassing myself by telling everyone that I am an especially stinky pooper.” ~ meekonesfade
“Information: Not counting the bathroom connected to the room you use, how many teacher/staff bathrooms are there, and approximately how many teachers/staff are there?”
“You are definitely NTA, but I am leaning towards your school admin possibly being the AHs for converting that space and its bathroom into someone’s permanent workspace.”
“I know one of the elementary schools I taught at had two single-stall bathrooms for all of the teachers and staff.”
“I nearly got a ticket one afternoon for speeding in the neighborhood around the school trying to get to a gas station so I could use the bathroom before a home visit as both bathrooms were in use with no signs of becoming available as I left the school.”
“Thankfully I was completely honest and the cop saw great humor in both the situation and my blunt, honest presentation of facts and laughed hysterically as he waved me off with a warning and a recommendation for the WaWa two blocks away.” ~ one_sock_wonder_
“NTA, but they’re right.”
“Tell the people who agree with her that they can’t use your bathroom either.”
“Everyone loses it.”
“It’s time to force the lock issue.’
“Until then, tell everyone that you’re working with sensitive data and can’t have people in and out of your office all day.” ~ toomuchsvu
“NTA at all.”
“Coworker can get upset but she must understand that is your designated work space and her bodily functions are impairing you from doing your job.”
“She has alternative restrooms she can use, but she should use them.”
“Another consideration is locking your door or the door to the bathroom.”
“Ask her if she wants to smell your or anyone else’s bathroom aftermath and see what she says.”
“Your coworker is being very inconsiderate.” ~ FlashyHabit3030
Reddit is with you, OP.
Lingering poop odor can be too much to handle.
And in the heat, no less, that would drive anyone to the toilet from the other end.
It might be time to have a chat with Human Resources, especially before your co-worker does.
Get in front of this train.
Good Luck.