7 ms·

I have a ridiculous sounding but very important to me reason for my preference to work at home: bowel movements. I worked with a small team in a small office.

I have a ridiculous sounding but very important to me reason for my preference to work at home: bowel movements. I worked with a small team in a small office. Everybody is typically at their desk in silence with the occasional manager or sales person on the phone. At predictable intervals throughout the day, someone will get up and be gone extra long. You know, and everybody else knows, they've gone for a number 2. Occasionally a manager will say "where's X" and someone will respond they stepped out. Nobody cares, and yes I'm being neurotic, but it is still slightly embarrassing that everybody _knows_. Again, nothing is devastating here, it's just... awkward. The fact that I can have my morning coffee and then when the urge comes, march off to my porcelain throne without anyone knowing better, answer Slack messages from my phone, etc. is one of the great joys of no longer being in an office for me.

WFHRenaissance 5y ago
This, and being able to shower whenever I want, and being able to put on presentable clothing for a Zoom call but then return to my sweatpants or even go topless... these sort of things are the reason I want to work from home. Maybe I'm crazy , or maladjusted, or maybe this is just the optimal way for me to work.
- amotinga 5y ago
  Yes, agree. I can list a lot of simple things like that
pram 5y ago
Yeah no joke. I have IBS and I’m self conscious in the same way. It just adds a lot of unpleasant stress to my life over something so dumb. Not to mention I’ve worked in places with two bathrooms total for like 300+ males lol. Always a pleasure to be standing in line after lunch.
- alistairSH 5y ago
  Not to mention I’ve worked in places with two bathrooms total for like 300+ males lol. Always a pleasure to be standing in line after lunch. If you're based in the US, that's likely illegal. OSHA requires 1 toilet + 1 urinal per 50 employees (IIRC). CA and other states have slightly stricter requirements.
mrfusion 5y ago
This sounds like a Seinfeld episode! You really need a new job.
strbean 5y ago
Clearly the answer to this issue in the office is to obfuscate by regularly going to the bathroom for 45 minutes to sit on your phone.
lm28469 5y ago
Aren't adults aware that everyone poops and there is no shame in going to the bathroom?
wccrawford 5y ago
I'm not embarrassed about going to the bathroom, but sometimes I was at work and I was pretty sure I stunk for some reason, and I couldn't do anything about it other than leave for the day. So I just sat there, miserable, wondering if anyone else thought I stunk. At home, I can actually go change my shirt and/or take a shower and actually be sure I don't stink. Also, nobody cares if I stink while I'm working from home. I still shower mid-day anyhow when I want to. Lunch is also a lot easier to deal with. I don't eat out because I have to watch my diet or I'll gain all my weight back that I lost. That's really hard when eating out. It's pretty easy at home.
- yebyen 5y ago
  I actually had my first dream about a colleague at a new job within the past month. They were giving me feedback for my performance review, and it was 100% all about how I frequently stink up the place, how embarrassing! Nearly brought to tears. Then I remembered, we all work remotely, and got a good laugh out of it, since this can never happen. (Even if I do stink!)
cratermoon 5y ago
Yes! This true for people with physical disabilities in general. While the law says companies must make "reasonable accommodation", that still leaves many people unsupported. Working from home, where they don't have to deal with office equipment, layout, and furniture tuned for the "average" person is a huge boost to productivity.

WFHRenaissance 5y ago

This, and being able to shower whenever I want, and being able to put on presentable clothing for a Zoom call but then return to my sweatpants or even go topless... these sort of things are the reason I want to work from home. Maybe I'm crazy , or maladjusted, or maybe this is just the optimal way for me to work.

amotinga 5y ago
Yes, agree. I can list a lot of simple things like that

pram 5y ago

Yeah no joke. I have IBS and I’m self conscious in the same way. It just adds a lot of unpleasant stress to my life over something so dumb. Not to mention I’ve worked in places with two bathrooms total for like 300+ males lol. Always a pleasure to be standing in line after lunch.

alistairSH 5y ago
Not to mention I’ve worked in places with two bathrooms total for like 300+ males lol. Always a pleasure to be standing in line after lunch. If you're based in the US, that's likely illegal. OSHA requires 1 toilet + 1 urinal per 50 employees (IIRC). CA and other states have slightly stricter requirements.

mrfusion 5y ago

This sounds like a Seinfeld episode! You really need a new job.

strbean 5y ago

Clearly the answer to this issue in the office is to obfuscate by regularly going to the bathroom for 45 minutes to sit on your phone.

lm28469 5y ago

Aren't adults aware that everyone poops and there is no shame in going to the bathroom?

wccrawford 5y ago

I'm not embarrassed about going to the bathroom, but sometimes I was at work and I was pretty sure I stunk for some reason, and I couldn't do anything about it other than leave for the day. So I just sat there, miserable, wondering if anyone else thought I stunk. At home, I can actually go change my shirt and/or take a shower and actually be sure I don't stink. Also, nobody cares if I stink while I'm working from home. I still shower mid-day anyhow when I want to. Lunch is also a lot easier to deal with. I don't eat out because I have to watch my diet or I'll gain all my weight back that I lost. That's really hard when eating out. It's pretty easy at home.

yebyen 5y ago
I actually had my first dream about a colleague at a new job within the past month. They were giving me feedback for my performance review, and it was 100% all about how I frequently stink up the place, how embarrassing! Nearly brought to tears. Then I remembered, we all work remotely, and got a good laugh out of it, since this can never happen. (Even if I do stink!)

cratermoon 5y ago

Yes! This true for people with physical disabilities in general. While the law says companies must make "reasonable accommodation", that still leaves many people unsupported. Working from home, where they don't have to deal with office equipment, layout, and furniture tuned for the "average" person is a huge boost to productivity.