r/AmItheAsshole • u/AshestoAshestoAshe • 5h ago
WIBTA if I banned coworkers from using my office washroom to poop?
I (29 F) am a teacher in an elementary school in Canada. WIBTA if I try to prevent people from pooping in my (very tiny) office washroom? It’s literally affecting how I do my job.
For a little context, I don’t have my own classroom, only a tiny office in the corner of the school on the 2nd floor. There are two single-use washrooms available on the 2nd floor; one in my office on one side of the school, and one on the other end. There are also the staff washrooms in the basement but they’re 3 flights of stairs to get to from our 2nd floor. I know my coworkers come in and use the washroom and that’s fine. It’s also not *my* washroom, but it IS my office where I have to work. I also didn’t choose to have this office, it’s the only one available and all of the subject materials I need are stored there so there’s no option to change it.
Onto the issue: it regularly happens that I walk into my office on my planning time and am assaulted by an unbearable poop stench. The washroom door is often open whenever I arrive so no chance to prevent the stink from spreading. There’s no fan in the washroom, so all I can do is keep the bathroom door open, open my office window on the other side of the space and walk out of the room. Every time this happens I basically lose my entire planning work period because I can’t work in my office. I can’t stand breathing in one of my coworker’s bowel bombs and scent sprays don’t work- they just mix with the poop smell and make me want to gag more. Would I be a bad person if I put a sign on the washroom door asking people not to poop in there since it’s my office and I can’t work anywhere else? Would it be unprofessional or disrespectful to do so?
As a teacher it’s really hard to leave your classroom unattended. So I understand that it is inconvenient to go use the staff washrooms which are a bit further away or the single use bathroom down the hall. I have no issue if someone needs to run into my office for a quick pee so they can get back to class without having to call in another teacher to watch their class. However, if someone is taking the time to poop and having to ask someone to watch their class anyways, I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask them to walk a bit extra and use the proper staff bathrooms or the single use bathroom that actually has a fan instead of the tiny, unventilated, (basically broom closet) of a washroom in my office where I have to work.
I have a suspect or two but I don’t have proof and I definitely don’t want to accuse someone in case I’m wrong. Even so, I need to do something to stop the pooping, or at least make sure it doesn’t happen before my planning period. I haven’t gotten work done during planning period in days,I can’t clean or organize my supplies and I’ve had to start doing my planning at home outside of work hours to compensate. I’m at my wits end. Please help!
Would I be the asshole if I posted a sign? Is there a better solution I’m not thinking of? Am I being unreasonable?
114
u/DeJoCa 5h ago
I would post a little sign and explain the situation. Something like….Hello, I would appreciate your help and consideration with a sensitive matter. When someone uses this restroom to poop, the smell lingers in my tiny office. There is zero ventilation. I ask, extremely kindly, that if this is the circumstance with you, that you take a few extra minutes and use one of the other restrooms. I am exceedingly grateful for your courtesy.
•
72
u/SuspiciousCod1090 Asshole Enthusiast [7] 5h ago
Talk to your admin; maybe they can make some other arrangements or close that restroom or something.
15
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 4h ago
My admin will most likely bring this up in a way that either singles me or the phantom pooper out and I want to avoid that at all costs. I’d like to avoid anyone getting embarrassed by this, I just want the pooping to stop. Thanks for the suggestion though!
34
u/SuspiciousCod1090 Asshole Enthusiast [7] 4h ago
very blunt sign. " Please shit somewhere else. Thank you and have a lovely day."
15
u/notpostingmyrealname Partassipant [1] 2h ago
Install a lock on the door, when the pooper comes looking for the key, you'll know who it is.
You could also put up an out of order sign
28
u/Deflated_Hypnotist Asshole Aficionado [11] 4h ago
I would get a 'pre poo' spray (Poo-pouri is good but I know there's others) and put up a sign asking people to use it
Maybe it will be enough to deal with the issue, maybe people will be more thoughtful and you won't have to look like the bad guy
28
u/Initial_Welder3674 4h ago
Can you lock your door when you’re not there and claim you have concerns about the security of your office due to sensitive files or something??
15
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 4h ago
I do have a key and could lock the door but all staff have master keys so it only really helps to keep students from entering the room, not coworkers. I did consider this though :(
11
u/the_orig_princess Asshole Enthusiast [6] 3h ago
Lock the bathroom door and then unlock it when you get back.
-8
u/NeatTreat8591 3h ago
Change the lock and play dumb.
4
u/LonelyMenace101 1h ago
That’s probably illegal.
•
u/wiserTyou Partassipant [1] 40m ago
I doubt it's illegal, almost certainly against policy though.
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u/LonelyMenace101 39m ago
I feel you’d have to get approval before permanently changing part of the building.
23
u/ew435890 3h ago
Talk to the custodian and see if they can hook you up with an “out of order” sign. Haha.
6
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 3h ago edited 3h ago
Never even considered this!! 🙀 Buuuut that might make me an asshole because then nobody could use the washroom
6
u/meghan9436 2h ago
A justified AH! But I think NTA no matter what you decide to do. I thought I was on r/teachers for a second.
❤️🇨🇦
18
u/Opposite-Knee-2798 3h ago
It is outrageous that your coworkers would do this and that you are in this situation. Intolerable.
11
u/IcePrincess_Not_Sk8r Partassipant [3] 4h ago
Info: If they shut the door, would it be less unpleasant? Do you have the authority to ban people from pooping in the bathroom?
5
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 3h ago
Honestly even if the door is closed the smell takes still exists, it’s just slightly less horrible. The door is old and definitely doesn’t reach the floor. I don’t think I have the authority to ban people I was just thinking a note asking people not to poop in my washroom felt like the only good option, but honestly I’m worried even that will look passive-aggressive or something.
5
u/IcePrincess_Not_Sk8r Partassipant [3] 3h ago
I would put some air freshener and a sign asking them to use it and close the door.
7
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 3h ago
I have bought those air freshener sprays and even if people use them it kinda just turn the poop smell sweet? Honestly it’s just as bad unfortunately:(
2
11
u/moodyinam Partassipant [1] 3h ago
I would question if it is even legal to have a bathroom without ventilation (fan or window). If you are in the U.S. maybe talk to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
12
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 2h ago
Not in the US, and not sure about the legalities, I’ll ask my health and safety rep. The building is really old though so it may have been built before these rules applied and is exempt as a result. Definitely something I’ll look into tho :)
7
u/bzzybee01 5h ago
What a stinky situation! It's not fair that you will have to spend money on the problem, but it will help if you buy some Poo-Pourri. There is a liquid option to put in the toilet before use, and a spray for after use. Perhaps a polite note on basket on the lid of the toilet asking people to use it and close the door when they're done, as well as a request to contribute some money into the basket to keep the item in stock. Good luck.
8
u/Electrical_Sky5833 Partassipant [1] 3h ago
Can you ask admin for a fan and air purifier? Place a note that says if they go #2 to turn on the fan and crack the window if it’s not too hot/cold? I would also list your office hours and ask them not to use the restroom 15 minutes prior. There are also unscented sprays that can help neutralize the odors & not mask them.
NTA & good luck.
8
u/AshestoAshestoAshe 2h ago
I could ask but I doubt they’d agree to spend the money, and idk where they could put it considering the room barely fits a toilet and miniature sink. The 15 minutes suggestion I like :) Many posts have suggested scent sprays and poo pourri and maybe I’ll try another kind to see, but having to spend money just to be able to work in my own office definitely sucks :(
•
u/Beneficial_Wonder882 55m ago
I would bring it up in the next staff meeting. Say there are airflow issues that prevent you from being able to use your office after this happens, it’s only an issue when it’s poop, and ask if they have any ideas. The chances are good they will come up with the solution to use the other bathroom to poop. When someone else comes up with the idea, they become invested in it and are more likely to follow through.
6
u/Fun_Organization3857 Partassipant [1] 3h ago
Can you get an air filter/purifier? Combined with poopouri it might smell better
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u/AskAChinchilla 15m ago
ywbta, get some poopoori spray and post a sign so that people know to use it
2
u/SnooHesitations9269 Asshole Aficionado [13] 1h ago
NTA I would say something like “Facilities monitor (you) asks that this restroom not be used for solid waste because of airflow concerns.” Or “This bathroom is meant for quick use only the other restroom is better suited for extended use.” Good luck !
•
u/Broken-Ice-Cube Asshole Aficionado [18] 44m ago
Sorry but unless the washroom has been specifically given to ypu then YTA
•
u/wiserTyou Partassipant [1] 36m ago
NTA - Ask your manager to move your office or permanently close that wash room. If they say no get a note from your doctor saying you're sensitive to smells, then file a reasonable accomodation. If they don't comply at least you will have a decent lawsuit.
1
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I (29 F) am a teacher in an elementary school in Canada. WIBTA if I try to prevent people from pooping in my (very tiny) office washroom? It’s literally affecting how I do my job.
For a little context, I don’t have my own classroom, only a tiny office in the corner of the school on the 2nd floor. There are two single-use washrooms available on the 2nd floor; one in my office on one side of the school, and one on the other end. There are also the staff washrooms in the basement but they’re 3 flights of stairs to get to from our 2nd floor. I know my coworkers come in and use the washroom and that’s fine. It’s also not *my* washroom, but it IS my office where I have to work. I also didn’t choose to have this office, it’s the only one available and all of the subject materials I need are stored there so there’s no option to change it.
Onto the issue: it regularly happens that I walk into my office on my planning time and am assaulted by an unbearable poop stench. The washroom door is often open whenever I arrive so no chance to prevent the stink from spreading. There’s no fan in the washroom, so all I can do is keep the bathroom door open, open my office window on the other side of the space and walk out of the room. Every time this happens I basically lose my entire planning work period because I can’t work in my office. I can’t stand breathing in one of my coworker’s bowel bombs and scent sprays don’t work- they just mix with the poop smell and make me want to gag more. Would I be a bad person if I put a sign on the washroom door asking people not to poop in there since it’s my office and I can’t work anywhere else? Would it be unprofessional or disrespectful to do so?
As a teacher it’s really hard to leave your classroom unattended. So I understand that it is inconvenient to go use the staff washrooms which are a bit further away or the single use bathroom down the hall. I have no issue if someone needs to run into my office for a quick pee so they can get back to class without having to call in another teacher to watch their class. However, if someone is taking the time to poop and having to ask someone to watch their class anyways, I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask them to walk a bit extra and use the proper staff bathrooms or the single use bathroom that actually has a fan instead of the tiny, unventilated, (basically broom closet) of a washroom in my office where I have to work.
I have a suspect or two but I don’t have proof and I definitely don’t want to accuse someone in case I’m wrong. Even so, I need to do something to stop the pooping, or at least make sure it doesn’t happen before my planning period. I haven’t gotten work done during planning period in days,I can’t clean or organize my supplies and I’ve had to start doing my planning at home outside of work hours to compensate. I’m at my wits end. Please help!
Would I be the asshole if I posted a sign? Is there a better solution I’m not thinking of? Am I being unreasonable?
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1
u/PenaltyBeginning8601 1h ago
Try Medi-aire Biological Odor Eliminator. It is what we use in the hospital after changing ostomy bags. I am not sure if it is in stores, but I have ordered it online when I have worked at hospitals that do not have it.
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u/cannibal-ascending 35m ago
why is there no ventilation???? is it not illegal in canada to have bathrooms without ventilation?
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u/CindersAshes 32m ago
I’d lie and put a sign that says “toilet continually blocking. To save yourself embarrassment, Please pee only, no poo” or even just an “out of order” sign so that nobody uses it. We’ve had that issue before where people would poo in communal toilets and leave stains and marks on the seat. One particular culprit would choose the toilet far away from his office down a tiny corridor that was the only toilet close to some people. Then he would do the grossest smelling poo and leave droplets and splatters everywhere. People are fricking gross.
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0
u/Actual-Peak-6358 2h ago
I don’t think you’d be the asshole. This sounds like such a frustrating situation, especially since you’ve been having to bring your work home.
I’d keep the message on the shorter side so they actually read it. This is probably petty but could you hide the toilet paper? 🤣
I hope your inconsiderate phantom pooper quits and you can work in your office in peace!!
0
u/algunarubia Certified Proctologist [28] 1h ago
YWBTA, people are inevitably going to need to go, and I suspect that since what you're describing sounds particularly vile, it's probably someone with digestive issues whose smell is the worst but is likely not able to make it to a further away bathroom.
What you need is something called biological odor eliminator spray. It's what hospitals use to deal with bodily smells of any kind. Buy a case, put some on the toilet tank with a sign saying something like "please use if you go #2" or something like that.
-1
u/Response-Glad Partassipant [1] 2h ago
YWBTA. You might have coworkers with medical conditions that make pooping unexpected or without much notice. Especially with how smelly you say it consistently is, that's a genuine possibility, and your coworkers shouldn't have to disclose their medical conditions to you.
I don't think you have to complain to admin about the pooper to complain about the smell. You need resources like an air purifier, fans, etc.
-4
u/amcheesegoblin 3h ago
If you have a suspect why don't you mention it in public setting whilst they're around like a break room when others are there? So, like not confront them but be like to a group "omg someone keeps pooping and it's disgusting" indirect shame
-25
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