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Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette for Good

06/06/2019 ● 6 minute read

Want to restore workplace washroom etiquette? You’ve come to the right place. Keep reading.

Obviously, you want to use a sparkling clean washroom, smelling fresh, with dry floors, and well equipped with toiletries, don’t you?

Easier said than done!

If you feel that your employees are slowly turning the washrooms into the nastiest rooms in the office block don’t worry, there are easy ways to restore your office washrooms.

Here are some tips on how to make your office (bathroom, washroom, powder room, restroom, toilet, or whichever name you prefer using) a happier place.

1. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Toilet Time is NOT Buddies Time

Are you going to the bathroom? I’ll come with you!” Why?!

Trips to the lavatory do not call for group action. Period.

Sometimes there will be a colleague or two, who see a trip to the toilet as a great opportunity for chitchat.

So what do you do to discourage that habit?

Offer to catch up with your colleague during your lunch break
Offer to take a walk with them later

2. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Collaborate to Keep the Office Washroom Better Than You Found It

Is your office using managed washroom services? Which by the way, is a convenient and hassle-free solution? So you don’t have to worry about workplace cleanliness again?

Fresh & Clean will install and regularly maintain all your office and hygiene units for a single monthly fee. Fresh & Clean takes care of:

Workplace washroom services

Hand Hygiene

Odour Control

Washroom sanitisers

Having a pleasant washroom for your employees and visitors is a great way to boost your company’s image.

However, having a managed washroom service is no excuse to ignore common courtesies.

We’re talking about the simple things like:

Replacing a roll of toilet paper when it is finished
Alerting the proper people when there’s no more toilet paper left in the entire bathroom
Informing the concerned persons when soap, seat covers, and paper towels run out
Reporting a clogged toilet

In a nutshell, if you see something, say something.

3. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Observe Phone Etiquette

According to research, your phone has 10 times more bacteria on it than a toilet seat!

Statistics show that we often bring our phones to the bathroom.

Talk about bacteria overload. But, sadly we do it anyway.

Mostly to catch up on personal emails, texts, our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

Besides the germy situation and a quick phone check, there are people who end up making lengthy phone calls. And perhaps you’re one of them?

Get this: no one wants to hear your personal phone conversations. In fact, it is plain disrespectful to your colleagues who are trying to use the bathroom in peace.

So how do you ensure office washroom etiquette where your mobile phone is concerned?

Simply by:

Taking your personal calls outside
Leaving your phone behind when you go to the washroom
Cleaning your phone regularly.

And if you must carry your phone to the toilet (why? why?), don’t answer it.

4. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Don’t Gossip in the Toilet

Remember how we talked about not entertaining friends who want to accompany you to the washroom?

Imagine you are in a washroom stall when your colleagues walk in gossiping.

And guess what: you’re the one they’re talking about!

So you end up being imprisoned in your stall, mortified and with a sunken heart. And worse still, you now can’t leave the bathroom stall until they finish their chatter.

Astonishing, isn’t it?

Never, ever talk poorly of a colleague in the bathroom. You never know who might be quivering in shame in the far stall.

And while you at it, why not start changing an unhealthy work environment. Get started with some helpful information in this video.

5. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Manage Your No-Boundary Bosses

Some bosses actually follow employees into the bathroom to talk about work! You may think that we are exaggerating but unfortunately we’re not.

Below is a reader who wrote to Ask A Manager to complain about a similar situation in the workplace. Here’s what she had to say:

“My boss does this weird thing where she follows me into the bathroom to talk to me. Like, if I’m heading towards the bathroom and pass her in the hallway, she’ll say, “Oh yeah! I needed to ask you about X and Y!” and then she’ll follow me. And then, while I’m in the stall, she’ll stand by the sink or whatever and talk to me/ask questions, etc. I suppose this isn’t that terrible but it’s just … awkward.

A couple of times, I have told her I’ll come right back and see her as soon as I’m out, but she just kind of ignores that and follows me in any way. And I could probably deal with it if these were urgent matters, but they’re not. It’s just general, conversational project talk.

Also, if my boss comes in to use the bathroom and someone else is in another stall (me or otherwise) she will strike up a conversation while everyone is … bathrooming. Alison, I am NOT the type of person who likes to get chatty while doing those things.

But I have no clue how to tell her to stop talking to me during that time, or how to ask her not to follow me to the bathroom. I feel like this is the kind of thing I should just let go, but it makes me cringe every single time it happens.”– Ask A Manager

You may find yourself in a similar situation.

So what can you do about it?

It can be tricky to give your boss a polite and professional rebuff. But consider explaining to your boss that you need some privacy in the bathroom. And that you will be back in their office shortly to discuss the matter at hand.

Or, why not share this article with your boss?

6. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – Redirect Your Anger

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

While at the workplace, some people will use the office washroom as a place to vent.

Here are a few ways to help you stay in control of your emotions:

Get physical: yoga, dancing, biking, jogging
Sign up for a kickboxing class
Let go of the person or situation
Write it out
Join a support network
Talk to a therapist

Also, read on for more ways to let go of anger right now.

Whatever you decide upon, get anger and stress out of your body system. The effects are dire. The infographic below paints a clearer picture. Take a look.

Image from HeartMath

7. Restore Workplace Washroom Etiquette – What Happens in the Bathroom Stays in the Bathroom?

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is a famous and perhaps overused quote. But it couldn’t be truer when it comes to bathroom matters.

Therefore, we can conclude that whatever happens in the office bathroom stays in the office bathroom. Employees’ delicate and personal moments should never leave the sanctity of the tiled space.

All must sign a covenant of silence and understanding – they call it a porcelain altar for a reason.

If you are curious enough, check out what people really do in the office bathroom. You might be shocked to learn that 3% exercise in the bathroom!

Happier Workplace Washrooms

You’ll agree with us that it is easy to restore workplace bathroom etiquette. Especially when each employee observes the guidelines we’ve detailed above.

Therefore, share this piece of information with all your colleagues and turn your office washroom into a happier place.

Next: partner with Fresh & Clean to keep your workplace fresh, hygienic, and healthy for less. Get in touch now for further help.