Non- Horsey- feeling very uncomfortable at work

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trickivicki

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Hi All,

Probably not one for this forum but I dont know who else to go to.

Our ladies toilet at work is one small room with one cubicle on, members of the male staff use the toilet (one in particular) despite there being a male toilet next door.

One particular male member of staff waits in the little room if the cubicle is in use, so it is highly awkward (and rather intimidating).

We have told our boss many times but he just shrugs it off, is there any actual law against this happening?

Sorry for non- horsey- ness!! will post a Baileys to anyone who can solve it!!!
 
Has anyone ever said anything to this man? Such as, "You're making me feel rather uncomfortable in here, could you possibly use the men's toilet?" Could you put a polite notice on the door requesting that men use the male toilet facilities provided if nobody dares speak to him. If that doesn't work I'd get a petition type thing from all the ladies and present that to your boss. Not sure if there are rules, but the company I work for is very big on "bullying and harrassment", and this is a form of that if he knows that he's making you uncomfortable...
 
You could fart really loudly and make loads of noises in the hope that he feels so uncomfortable and leaves?! :D
 
Personally I think this is harrassment - does he make a beeline for the loo as soon as a lady steps in? In which case you should say this, formally, in writing to your boss and cc higher up to his boss too.

I'd also get together with the other ladies and as soon as he beelines for the ladies toilet room someone (or several of you) follow him in to wait for the loo and tell him to go to the gents (harrass him into using the gents).
 
eww, poor you- i would be inclined to try out the bigger sign on the door "ladies only" and see what happens?
I suppose it really could be completely innocent and he really might not have realized its not very nice for women.
I sympathize with toilet at work problems- my old job was in an office fixed to the owners house so the loo was in their house with no lock. I lost count of the amount of times i had to shout as the teenage son or other male relatives tried to walk in!
 
If you're brave enough, get a few of you together & go in the gents to use their cubicle? I know it might not be most pleasant place but it might get your point across that it's a little embarrassing & that ladies & gents toilets are there for a reason
 
Your employer should provide seperate and secure male and female toilers and if there are ant trans gender members of staff then a seperate toilet for them.
Your Employer should take immediate action about this as the legal consequences that could be taken against him could be very serious.
If your employer is just shrugging your complaint off then make a formal complaint in writing to him. If he fails to take immediate action to resolve the behaviour of this member of staff then I would advise you to contact Citizens Advice or alternatively if your are a Gold member of the BHS contact their Legal Help Line and take advice from them.
There is no doubt that this action could be deemed to be sexual harassment in the work place and in the event of you leaving you could use it in a claim of unfair dismissal.
 
Speak to your office manager and get a sign put up - we did!! Mind you, I am the office manager......

I put a sign up on the door telling them not to go in there - However, we do have several other toilets for them to go in...

Can't you get someone to send round a jokey email about men "loitering" in the ladies toilet area and shame them into stepping outside until it is free? Or even using their own bloody toilet for that matter....
 
Peter's advice is excellent, and as I said on the other thread, be careful about approaching this chap directly, you don't want to be accused of bullying or harrassment yourself and following some of the other advice could lead to this.
 
Hi Guys,

Thank you for all your advice and support.

At the moment we are trying to word an appropriate email for all of us girls to send individually.

Hopefully the boss man will take action if he knows we are all upset by it rather than just one person being unreasonable.

Will keep you all posted,
 
Simplest solution is to take the lock off the cubicle and put it on the outside door so that once you are in the room the door is then locked behind you and no-one else can get in to wait until the cubicle is free.

If you go to your management with that suggestion - a no cost option! - they should be prepared to accept it, especially if you can suggest someone at work who will do it for nothing.
 
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