18 employees and one unisex bathroom--help!

My department at work is moving into a new space--actually a very old building--and there is only one bathroom available, one, for all of us. Not one with several actual toilets, I mean one toilet for approx 18 of us. Oh, yeah, the bathroom is located in an area where people will be sitting right outside in a waiting room. I don't think it could get any worse. Oh yeah, I could excuse myself to go to the building next to us, but then I will be announcing, "Hey everybody, I have to go to the bathroom--again!"

That totally sucks!!! I can imagine your anxiety over this issue...one bathroom for that many people seems cruel.

:)

Can you transfer to another dept? Is this a temporary move or permanent?

I was asked once at my old job to take a temporary position in a location with a similar kind of bathroom situation. I said I could do it only if I could have permission to use a private bathroom that I knew was in an area where I wasn't supposed to be. I could never have worked there without just knowing that there was a place I could "disappear" to without everyone noticing that I was hogging the bathroom for 20 minutes.

I would suggest that you bring this up to someone sympathetic at work... is there an HR department or an employee relations person? I'm not sure how big your company is, but someone must have authority to figure out what to do. I would describe your concern using the word "disability" or "health concern" -- no employer wants to be accused of discriminating against people with disabilities or medical issues.

I have a feeling that you are NOT the only person out of 18 who is worried about this. What's the name of that book -- Everybody Poops? I bet that if someone raises this issue publicly other people are going to jump on board. Even before I had UC, I hated having to share a bathroom with a lot of people.

Wow, that would be awful! My house is small and has only 1 bathroom and it's just my husband, my daughter and myself. When I'm going through a flare, I have sometimes found myself standing outside the bathroom door, urging whoever is in there to please hurry, hurry, hurry........I can't imagine having to deal with that at work. I would be stressed just thinking about whether the bathroom would be free when I need it. I hope you can find a workable solution. Good Luck.

Isn't there some kind of a law that requires there to be separate bathrooms for men and woman?

Wow.........

Really...............just..........wow.

I knew I could get some empathy for you all. Yes, it's perm. and it took me years of education and training to be where I'm at--most importantly, I really enjoy what I do--so I don't want to look elsewhere. Everyone at work knows I have UC: worked there for a long time, been hospitalized, have had reduced work hours b/c of flares, etc. And yes, UC is a disability and America's with Disabilities act does apply, but the interesting thing is it's hard to get anyone to take bathroom issues seriously. I'm on the planning committee for the move/new space (issues) and I've brought up the bathroom situation a couple of times and people just nervously laugh it off; of coarse, this meeting comprises of 10-12 people, some top management (and not too familiar with), so I don't disclose my personal situation, but I will bring up that it's rediculous for 18 people to use one bathroom, but it doesn't go any where. Yes, everybody poops, but nobody will admit it! I've taken my immediate manager aside and stated my concern, but she gives me a "I'm not sure what to do" shrug--and I honestly believe her, she doesn't know what to do. I seriously don't think they will build another bathroom (time, money, space issues) but I will go to HR and see what my rights and options are. I'm not a shy person, by any stretch, but it's getting a little stressful to keep on reminding people that I go to the bathroom--a lot--and privacy would be nice; people look at you if you just said something nasty.

I agree that you need to research the employment law/codes pertaining to restroom access. about 10 yrs ago my workplace faced a shortage of facilities due to extensive on-going renovation in our bldg, & even the healthy staff expressed outrage to top management in blunt terms, like: "Are we supposed to run down the street to use the john at Cafe Pezzi?" That got their attention & work toward a solution to the problem. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.]