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How would you handle a mad crapper? |
MayJay
Joined: Apr 23, 2008
Posts: 5 |  Posted: 2008-07-14 10:33
We are having a disgusting problem at our workplace that just has us scratching our heads. Our shop, which is made up of entirely males, has someone in it's midst that thinks it is funny to foul up the restrooms. It would appear that it is happening on second shift, but we are unable to narrow it down from there. This person has been clogging up the toilets with the toilet seat covers by stuffing handfuls of the seat covers down the toilet. Maintenance then has to fix this. We put up notices appealing to this persons sense of decency (which obviously does not exist), and asking them to consider that someone has to clean their mess up. However, I came to work this morning and was immediately called to the shop to observe what probably happened on second shift on friday. Someone had smeared you-know-what all over the back of the toilet seat. It was obvious that it was intentional. Our poor cleaning lady had to go in there and clean this, and I am dumbfounded. I have never seen anything like this in my entire HR career. Obviously, we can't put cameras in the restroom. Has anyone seen anything like this before? Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do?
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rrupert
Joined: Feb 15, 2006
Posts: 1612 | Posted: 2008-07-14 11:18
Other than having the supervisor have a key to the bathroom and checking it before/after each usage, I am not sure what to suggest.
I do agree that it is disgusting.
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cynbrandt
Joined: Nov 11, 2003
Posts: 1782 | Posted: 2008-07-14 12:07
ewww. Agree with rrupert's suggestion about the key. Unfortunately, this isn't simply a matter of someone with nasty habits; this person is deliberately causing damage. Having to sign out a key may prevent further havoc in the rest room, but the guilty party may then seek out other means of sabotage.
You have a very disgruntled person or persons on your second shift. You need to figure out what the heck is going on. When did the problem start? What happened around that time? (Someone disciplined? Unpopular new supervisor? Change in working conditions?)
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MayJay
Joined: Apr 23, 2008
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2008-07-14 12:21
A key to the restroom might at least be something that we could threaten them with if the behavior does not stop. It's much better than any of the empty threats that we have been able to come up with.
This most recent incident is a new spin on things. The toilet blocking has been going on for about 6 months, but was also going on for a while a few years ago, before I started here. It's next to impossible to guess who it is.
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nork3
Joined: Feb 12, 2002
Posts: 3876 | Posted: 2008-07-14 13:18
You can't put a camera in the bathroom, but I'm not aware of any restrictions on putting one outside to see who is going in and at what time. If it was second shift on Friday and wasn't found until Monday AM, I'm guessing that it's the last person who used that bathroom Friday night.
It won't take a rocket scientist to figure out the purpose of the camera outside the restroom door. Even a dummy camera with a light on it will probably be deterence enough.
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Hrpro
Joined: Jan 29, 2008
Posts: 159 | Posted: 2008-07-14 16:50
Threaten them with sending the misplaced matter out for testing to determine who owns it.
I like the key idea. Much like gas stations used to do a long time ago with a hub cap welded to a chain that was welded to the bathroom key.
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TRYHRD923
Joined: Sep 21, 2004
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2008-07-22 10:42
The camera approach outside the restroom area appears to be the best resolve. That along with communicating that there is an issue (no specific details) about the general cleanliness in the restroom may serve to put the individual(s) on notice.
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JMcQuaid
Joined: Dec 07, 2004
Posts: 36 | Posted: 2008-07-22 10:48
I concur with the camera outside the washroom idea, but I think I would perfer stealth rather than overt placement.
Personally, I don't think you want to deter this person, you want to catch them. You need to find out what is motivating this aberrant behaviour. Spreading fecal matter is way outside the norms of the usual prankster and could be a prelude to more violent behaviour.
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mvrentchler
Joined: Jul 22, 2008
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2008-07-22 11:12
If you use a metal key you also need a sign out/in sheet in order to track usage to abuse.
Who would be in charge of that? Who has time? Why hire more personnel? Why bother other busy workers whose primary job it is not.
If your employer already has photo id's required it is simply to set up barcoding and readers like a mini-library and put a slot next to the bathroom door that also unlocks the door from the outside and well as from the inside and then you have data for use on tracking the abuse of either the facility or the time being spent in the facility. Sorry, folks that is the reality of the workplace world these days. You should probably already have ingress/egress slots for all of your access doors anyone and this would be one more "security" upgrade for your facility...protect your staff from intruders, predators, stalkers, data theft, identities theft, technology access...
That should take care of the anticipated outcry of staff thinking their privacy has been invaded. It will just be a characteristic of the work environment. You might note those that cry out the loudest might have the most to worry about.
My two cents.
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MayJay
Joined: Apr 23, 2008
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2008-07-22 11:29
We had our supervisors have a meeting with each of their departments to let them know that a)they are all under suspicion, b)they will be patroling the restooms randomly throughout the day and night shift, and c)if it continues, we will put up camera's and start narrowing it down. After my original post, it did happen again, this time on the walls, but after these meetings, it appears to have ceased - at least for now. The only problem with that is I really want to catch the person and fire their sorry a**.
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JMcQuaid
Joined: Dec 07, 2004
Posts: 36 | Posted: 2008-07-22 12:09
MayJay, you won't likely catch your sicko now that he is well warned. You may, however see other forms of sabotage emerge.
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MayJay
Joined: Apr 23, 2008
Posts: 5 | Posted: 2008-07-22 12:13
That is a concern that I have. This person is not cured of their illness just because we are attempting to make a stand. It's very sad, but we are all on guard constantly.
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Rock
Joined: Jun 01, 2004
Posts: 8 | Posted: 2008-07-22 12:27
I agree with JMcQuaid, you may stop one behavior but you force this sicko into a more overt behavior. The electronic key with ID and time stamp can be done probably through your security system. So you may be able to prove a time line but that is about all unless there is a documented inspection before and after the occurence. We had a past employee tagged as the spitter. We would find globs of stuff in his area, bathroom, locker room but nobody every saw him. I questioned him which he denied with much anger. Later that day a blob was outside my office door. I got the employee and asked him to clean it up, which he refused. I told him to wait here, I then went into my office and came back with a zip lock bag, q-tips and rubber gloves. He watched me as I put on gloves and placed glob coated q-tips into the bag. I told him that for $300 we can do DNA testing and I was holding the sample until it could be approved. He was also being written up for refusing a job direction. His file was full and this lead to his uncontested termination. The spit problem was now gone and hasn't been seen since.
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bhyork
Joined: Dec 08, 2003
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2008-07-22 12:35
You've got two problems here. A health and safety issue effecting all employees due to this behavior. (A bathroom key may only aggravate the situation.) And obviously an employee with some mental health problems. You should probably bring in a psychologist who can identify the disgruntled employee before this escalates into something worse. Then you can address the underlying issues. Safety should be your number one concern. Good luck.
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momaxwell
Joined: Jul 22, 2008
Posts: 4 | Posted: 2008-07-22 12:52
I actually think this is a far more serious problem that a prankster (after all, they are not toileting papering cubicles when no one is looking). Can you really imagine touching your own fecal matter? Even out of anger? You have a person with some serious mental issues and rather than concentrating on eliminating the bathroom destruction I would truly work on indentifying the culprit – even if it takes a sign in and sign out key. My concern is where else this person will act out. ADA issues aside, someone in your office is a time bomb of issues. I would concentrate on finding out who that is. I would suspect that your mangers might have an idea, though I am not suggesting a witch hunt. I glad the issue has resolved itself for now, but I would still be very concerned and vigilant.
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