Workplace Argument: “Cleaning in the toilet” who cry in the bathroom

The new workplace buzzword “hiding glasses” names a behavior you may have observed in your workplace — employees hiding in the bathroom because they’re upset, overwhelmed, or just need a break. Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of AI Career Tool Kickresume has prepared commentary on the toilet hiding, as well as tips for employees and managers on what to do if people feel the need to hide in the bathroom.

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, comments:

“In ours recent researchwe asked people what kind of informal breaks they take at work and 44% said they take “bathroom breaks for peace”. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing – for many of us, if you’re having a stressful day, sometimes all you need is a minute to go somewhere quiet and focus. The toilet is somewhere you can go to get some privacy.

“However, it can be a problem if people are so stressed that they feel the need to retreat to the toilet too often. It’s even more of a problem if employees hide in the toilet for extended periods, feeling too anxious to come back out. If you notice this happening in your workplace, it can be a sure sign that people are feeling overwhelmed or unsupported.

“Our study found that while 44% of men take bathroom breaks, women are far more likely to do so at 53%. And while most of those breaks are short, 10% of workers said they hide there for more than 10 minutes at a time.”

Tips for employees

• Think about why you’re “going to the bathroom”: If you find yourself often hiding in the bathroom, take a minute to think about why — is it your day job itself, or are you currently feeling stressed about something in your life outside of work?
• Be open with your manager. If you are struggling at work, let your manager know. Talk to them privately about how what you’re experiencing is affecting your ability to work, whether it’s an unmanageable workload or a period of difficult mental health. You don’t have to reveal anything you don’t feel comfortable sharing, but a good manager will want to support you and see if there’s anything that can be done to make things easier.
• Support your colleagues if you can. If you hear someone crying on the toilet, they may not feel comfortable talking to you about it, but they’ll probably appreciate it if you gently say, “I hope you’re okay, let me know if I can help.” They may feel embarrassed that someone has seen or heard them crying on the toilet, but a kind word goes a long way.

Tips for administrators

• Make time for regular one-on-ones with your team. This will help you check on people’s wellbeing by creating a space where they can talk to you privately and report any issues they are having.
• Help your team prioritize. If your employees are feeling overwhelmed because they are extremely busy and can’t handle the workload, work with them to identify which tasks need to be done urgently and which can wait. If this happens often, you may need to advocate for your department to hire more staff.
• Provide a break room if you can, or create an environment where staff know it’s okay to step away from their desks for a break if needed. If someone seems visibly upset, ask them if they need a minute to themselves. The reason could be work-related or it could be something in their personal life — and they shouldn’t feel pressured to explain.

The post Workplace Buzzword: “Crying in the Toilet” They Cry in the Bathroom appeared first on The Good Men Project.