Do You 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:

Workplace bathroom etiquette: 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.

Workplace bathroom etiquette: 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?

Workplace bathroom etiquette: 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.

Workplace bathroom etiquette: Don't talk on your cell phone