60

I have a very non-threatening chronic kidney condition. One of the recommended management techniques is to drink a lot of liquids - this keeps my kidneys from retaining more water than they need to. The obvious downside is that I need to visit the bathroom semi-frequently (maybe 4ish times a day, but each visit is short).

Even if I am working at my desk and not in a meeting, I'm concerned this may be viewed as unprofessional behavior. I certainly don't want to cause any trouble at my workplace, but this is something recommended as a management technique by my nephrologist. I doubt the viability of carrying around a certificate from my Doctor and displaying it to all my coworkers on my way to the bathroom.

Meetings do not generally pose an issue, as longer meetings are usually scheduled in advance and will have a bathroom break at some point.

two bugs
  • 743
  • 1
  • 5
  • 8
  • 131
    Is 4ish times a day that odd? I don't think anyone would notice unless you had to break a conversation to leave. – David K Apr 14 '16 at 13:25
  • 5
    I appreciate all the feedback! It sounds like I was definitely overthinking this. I'm a little disturbed by the "disgusting coworker" related question, though... – two bugs Apr 14 '16 at 13:31
  • 1
    @twobugs as long as you do your "business" in the designated locations, you don't need to worry about other coworkers calling you disgusting. :p – Migz Apr 14 '16 at 13:38
  • 10
    I visit more than 4 times a day, maybe 6 due to the amount of water I drink. Do you notice other people going toilet and actively keep track and have something to say about it? You'll be fine. If anything it could be a talking point. – user3564421 Apr 14 '16 at 13:39
  • 93
    I'm concerned this may be viewed as unprofessional behavior. - The alternative is unprofessional – Ed Heal Apr 14 '16 at 13:40
  • 39
    Some people are addict to drinking coffee and/or tea. These people have to take bathroom breaks often. So, really, don't worry about it :) –  Apr 14 '16 at 14:00
  • 38
    @Alexandre is exactly right. I consume a lot of fluids and consequently usually need to go to the bathroom five or six times during my shift. Nobody cares. – Esoteric Screen Name Apr 14 '16 at 14:03
  • 19
    Why do you think 4 times per an 8-hour workday is unusual? Seems perfectly normal to me, though I admit that I've never monitored co-workers bathroom habits. – jamesqf Apr 14 '16 at 17:19
  • 14
    To add to the "it's normal" crowd: I don't have a kidney condition (that I am aware of) and I use the facilities about 4 times in an 8 hour day. That hardly seems unusual at all to me. I worry more about my friends and co-workers who don't go at all in a 6 hour stretch. – do-the-thing-please Apr 14 '16 at 17:21
  • 3
    I worked on a place that people need to beep a badge to get access to the bathroom. On some reports, we had several employees doing around 8 bathroom breaks a day. really, 4 breaks is pretty much normal. – T. Sar Apr 14 '16 at 17:31
  • 10
    I drink a ton of water and use the restroom much more than 4 times in a work day. – Goose Apr 14 '16 at 19:06
  • 2
    4 isn't very much, if there's an issue, you can talk to your employer and tell them about your condition. Don't worry! – AJFaraday Apr 15 '16 at 14:11
  • 3
    Unless you are in a very controlling environment (as are some people in call centres, or workers on an assembly line, or some other environments where there is a very strict monitoring of coffee/smoke/bathroom breaks), like most of the others, I really don't think it would be an issue. – jcaron Apr 15 '16 at 14:36
  • 4
    4? I go to the bathroom like 8 times a day. At my programming job that is. Teaching job is tougher since I can't walk out on kids, so I HOLD IT. – Andrew Whatever Apr 15 '16 at 17:51
  • 1
    I think 4 times during a normal working day is normal. – copper.hat Apr 16 '16 at 15:36
  • A bit off topic but... "I certainly don't want to cause any trouble at my workplace"... it seems like you are generating your life from a place of fear... the more you let go of that, the more successful you will be... I would even go as far to say is if you have any "fear" of losing whatever your current job is, whatever the reason, your chances of real success are minimal, since you will be working in an extreme risk-averse manner, which rarely produces anything interesting.I urge you to look into sources which discuss letting go of fear and rational risk taking – JoelFan Apr 16 '16 at 23:18
  • It might depend on your jurisdiction and occupation. For example, I'm required, by law, to take a short break every hour. To get up and walk a bit. That's 7 breaks a day I have to make, need it or not. So, if you are lucky, there may be similar law for you, too. – Mołot Apr 16 '16 at 23:26
  • Also, there is nothing more valuable than your health. There should be no question of compromising your health for the sake of a job. Even from a purely economical standpoint, that is a fooling choice, since an unhealthy person is much less able to earn a living. – JoelFan Apr 17 '16 at 01:13

6 Answers6

217

I'm concerned this may be viewed as unprofessional behavior.

Don't be. As long as it's only a short break of a few minutes, nobody cares in the stereotypical office environment.

I know this answer is short, but there is really nothing more to say. You are overthinking this.

nvoigt
  • 138,739
  • 73
  • 318
  • 416
  • 82
    There is one more thing to say. If the extremely unlikely happens and the business does decide to make it an issue, having a legitimate medical condition requiring a couple more pit stops a day than the other employees is grounds for a reasonable accommodation request. – Esoteric Screen Name Apr 14 '16 at 14:01
  • 6
    @EsotericScreenName in some countries this is also considered moral harassment, and on big corporations probably goes against their ethics code. Also, the problem is between OP and his boss, the only one that should be made aware of his medical condition. – Mindwin Remember Monica Apr 14 '16 at 20:02
  • 1
    At the end of each day, write down how many times you notice your co-workers taking a washroom break. Logically deduce if that's remotely accurate. Do this for couple days and you'll realize you really don't care. Nobody else does either, unless they're sitting in the bathroom and is responsible for keeping it clean. – Nelson Apr 15 '16 at 08:38
  • Assuming your frequency is actually noticeable (4 is not) there are two issues here. Unprofessional enough to fire you? Not with a doctor's note. Unprofessional enough that someone else gets promoted over you? Well maybe if you work for Trump. – candied_orange Apr 15 '16 at 21:42
101

First off, 4 times a day is not excessive. That is not far off normal for most people.

Secondly, unless you are holding all day workshops, you have time between meetings to take a break. And even if you are in all day workshops, these must have regular coffee breaks, rest breaks etc (many countries mandate this in employment law)

Thirdly, if you have an urgent need to go somewhere it is almost always appropriate to excuse yourself - be polite, and explain you need to take 5 minutes. (Possible exceptions include: being in an interview, presenting on stage etc)

If you are in a call centre environment, your break times may be mandated, or at the least closely controlled and monitored, but as commented below, in that scenario you will have a representative to speak to about this.

Myself - I try to take a break every hour, just for a walk away from my desk. Sometimes I can't, but it is a healthy thing to build in as part of your daily routine - good for general fitness, keeping you alert, and helping avoid back problems and circulatory issues.

Rory Alsop
  • 6,085
  • 1
  • 36
  • 51
  • 8
    Third: It's always appropriate if you consider the alternative :-( The OP is lucky that the problem is just "how often"; there are people with health problems that are worse (who can't use public transport, for example). – gnasher729 Apr 14 '16 at 14:17
  • 4
    I'd imagine the asker probably has colleagues who smoke who leave their desks for a few minutes more than 4 times a day, and haven't noticed. It does depend on the workplace though - for example short breaks in environments similar to call centres and production lines are closely monitored (but there would also be a person responsible who the asker could discuss their condition with). – user56reinstatemonica8 Apr 16 '16 at 16:17
12

The chance is that if you think that going to the bathroom 4 times a day is much, you drink too little water as it is today. For me, going to the bathroom 4 times a day or more is completely normal. So drinking more water in your case would probably be a good idea, having a kidney condition or not. If not otherwise to prevent getting kidney problems ;)

HelloGoodbye
  • 237
  • 1
  • 3
  • 14
    I agree that 4 times a day is pretty normal, but I really think you should avoid giving medical advice about an unknown kidney problem when you don't have enough details to give good information. – Patrick M Apr 15 '16 at 19:35
7

I can see how it could be a little awkward for colleagues if you're in the middle of a conversation and then you need to go to the bathroom. But I doubt that's the case. And when it does happen, it's not like you look any less professional. You're human after all. Personally I drink lots and lots of water throughout the whole day because it cools me down. Obviously it has the same side effect that you have.

Whenever I need to go while I'm in the middle of a conversation, I politely interrupt them and ask them to hold their thought as I excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

It becomes unprofessional and concerning if you need to go to the bathroom literally every 30 minutes. Not because of the frequent "breaks" you'd be taking, but due to the reduced possibility to talk to you without being interrupted. Which means that @VarunAgw's eye stretching breaks are still fine.

Seeing as you say you go to the bathroom around 4 times a day, you should easily be fine. Even if that number were to double.

TL;DR, Things are fine, just excuse yourself. Going to the bathroom makes you more human, not less professional.

Migz
  • 4,061
  • 4
  • 16
  • 26
  • It's not at all unprofessional if you go literally every 30 minutes. It's an indication of a health problem; having health problems is not unprofessional. – gnasher729 Jan 29 '17 at 12:19
7

I'm concerned this may be viewed as unprofessional behavior

By who?

The only person who really matters is your boss, and if she has a problem with it she will bring it up to you, and then you can explain the issue.

If Joe Blow a few cubes down is keeping tabs on how often you go to the bathroom, that's his problem, not yours.

Andy Lester
  • 2,118
  • 12
  • 20
6

Almost everyone I know in the office goes to have a wee four times per day … or more.

I don't know whether it's just because of the constant stream of tea and coffee, or because it honestly doesn't seem like a huge quantity of bathroom breaks anyway.

But, either way, I don't think you need to worry about this whatsoever.

tl;dr: this is normal

Lightness Races in Orbit
  • 11,272
  • 4
  • 24
  • 40