Ah, the office bathroom. Never has one spot in a corporate building garnered so much controversy and argument around the water cooler. Having worked in different offices for a better part of my working life, I have seen how this so-called ‘sanctuary’ can be a major source of stress and tension. And though some of these points may seem obvious to some, just remember that what bugs some people may not bug others. Here are some etiquette tips on how to keep your office bathroom decent and keep the peace with your co-workers.
1. Don’t carry on a conversation
There’s nothing more awkward then someone who’s continuing a conversation through a stall door or standing side-by-side at the urinal. If you’re in the middle of talking to someone when entering the bathroom, it’s best to just cease the conversation until you’re both done and leaving the room, or at the sink. Just go in, do your business, and get out of there so you can continue the conversation in the hallway.
2. Keep the banter light
This isn’t the place to talk business, but sports talk, family talk, TV talk, movie talk, etc. is OK, and only at the sink or in passing (see rule #1). And gossip’s a huge no-no! Not only do you not want to get caught by unseen ears in the stalls, but it makes you look immature and unprofessional.
3. Clean up after yourself
There’s nothing worse than walking into a stall and swearing there was a shaggy dog after a bath that shook itself off in there. Wipe up the toilet when you’re done if you’ve left any ‘sprinkles’ on it. If you get the counter wet at the sink, take the extra few seconds and wipe it down with a paper towel. It might seem like overkill, but a few seconds can leave many people very happy.
4. Flush the toilet
Seems obvious, no? Yet I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve walked into a stall and been left a ‘surprise’. Is it that hard to flush, and to stand there for a few moments afterwards to make sure everything disappears? A little courtesy goes a long way, trust me! And while you’re at it, please don’t use your foot to flush. Yes, I know the handle’s probably unsanitary. However, you’re about to wash your hands anyway (or at least I hope you are), so using your hand is better than the next person finding mud and dirt on the handle.
5. Mind your business
Of course I don’t know about this example myself, but many of my male friends have informed me that the ‘look around’ can be really annoying….the one guy at the urinal who blatantly looks around at everyone else while doing his business. Then there’s the whistlers, singers, and criers. Look, I’m all for expressing yourself through music or a good cry, but there’s a time and a place for these things.
6. Be generous about picking ‘your spot’
When you walk into your typical corporate bathroom, there’s often a number of stalls to choose from. And in your typical corporate bathroom, there’s often times one person in the whole room, yet a new person comes in and picks the stall right next to the first person! If there’s multiple empty stalls and one’s in use already, PLEASE just leave at least one empty between you. Yes, you can still hear everything going on in the room, but this at least gives you a little sense of space.
It sounds so obvious that maybe it’s insulting, but people really do need to be reminded. It’s not only a courtesy to others because you’re washing away your germs, but it’s also important to you! You have no idea how many things you touch during the day that could possibly be carrying cold germs or anything else imaginable out there. And yes….we women especially talk. In the office, we always know who doesn’t wash their hands, and I’m sorry to say, those people are branded for the rest of their careers as being ‘gross’.
8. Cover your stink
If you’re stinking up the bathroom, have the decency to at least spray the room afterward. In the opposite direction, please don’t kill the rest of us with your perfume or hairspray. Believe me, perfume or cologne is not necessarily terrible, but there is such a thing as ‘too much of a good thing’. The rest of us would like to be able to breathe.
9. Put your trash where it belongs
Too often I find used paper towels on the floor just shy of the garbage bin. Yes, most places are lucky enough to have janitors, but these people are hard workers, too, and have enough work as it is without having to pick up after you when the trash has just barely missed it’s target. Also, and this is for women in particular of course, please properly dispose of your feminine products. This means no flushing it, just wrap your stuff in some tissue and make sure it makes it to the trash bin.
10. Time limits
If you’re in an office with only a single bathroom, be cognizant of the time you spend in there. The likelihood is that someone else is waiting to use it.
Following these simple steps will not only make your office a better environment, but it’ll make everyone’s day a little easier, too. Work is hard enough as it is, let’s at least try to control just one aspect of it and be nice to each other.
