How to Practice Good Workplace Bathroom Etiquette

Do you work in an office building with a single restroom? If so, you’re going to end up sharing it with lots of women some of whom may not treat the office restroom with the same respect they treat their bathroom at home. This can create an uncomfortable experience on a daily basis particularly if you drink coffee to stay alert. If you share a restroom with your office mates, take the time to practice proper workplace bathroom etiquette. You can only hope your office buddies will catch on and follow suit, making your office restroom a more pleasant place to visit. Here are some rules of workplace bathroom etiquette everyone should follow:

Look Before you Enter

The locks on public restroom doors aren’t always as reliable as they should be. Before barging into a stall, peek underneath the opening to see if you see any sign of legs. Only when the stall appears empty should you gently push open the door. It could make for a very uncomfortable work situation if you throw open the door of a bathroom stall to reveal an office worker with her pants around her knees.

Flush and Check

There’s nothing more unappetizing than entering an office restroom stall after lunch to find an unflushed toilet. Don’t let this happen to you. When you flush, wait for the swirling water to stop and make sure the toilet bowl is empty with clear water. Do you really want to exit the stall with a dirty toilet bowl and have your supervisor step in behind you to use the stall?

Don’t Gossip in the Restroom

Sometimes people enter a restroom thinking they’re in a private setting, forgetting their fellow office workers lurk behind the doors of the restroom stalls. Play it safe and keep restroom conversation to a minimum. This will keep you from being labeled the office gossip and will make the office restroom a more peaceful place for everyone.

Don’t Talk on your Cell Phone

Don’t use the office restroom to make your cell phone calls. This is disturbing not only to your office workers but also allows your private life to be broadcast to the rest of the office. Do you really want the entire office to know your Uncle John was arrested for disorderly conduct last night or that your Aunt Alice is having an affair with the next door neighbor’s plumber?

Don’t Block the Sinks Putting on Makeup

Some office restrooms have limited space and only one of two sinks. Don’t monopolize the sinks and the mirrors putting on your makeup. People need to wash their hands and get back to work. Reapply your makeup in the privacy of your car during lunch hour instead.

Don’t Contaminate the Air with Perfume

Some people have the habit of spraying the air with cologne or perfume after using a public restroom. The smell can be sickeningly sweet and a source of discomfort for those with allergies. Office restrooms tend to be small with poor ventilation. Don’t pollute the air any more than you have to.

Show a little regard for your fellow office workers by practicing good bathroom etiquette. Your co-workers will thank you.