Filed under: letters
Dear Ms. Theologian:I have another question regarding bathroom habits of co-workers. What if you notice that a co-worker (presuming you don’t work in an establishment that serves food or drink in which employees are REQUIRED to wash hands) does not wash his/her hands after using the facilities? Is it okay to call them on it since they are potentially touching the same phone, computer, conference room table, door knob, etc. as you are?
Yours in fear of urine
Dear Fearful (of urine),
In terms of public health, washing hands is much like wearing condoms–everyone knows that he/she should, but many people don’t. It’s a similar temptation–how do you get people to do something they should do, but that is slightly inconvenient or uncomfortable even in the interest of the public good?
I’m not sure.
I suppose it might be okay to call someone on not washing her hands. But here’s how that might go. Picture two women at double sinks in the bathroom.
Fearful (in a polite informative tone): Hey, I noticed you didn’t wash your hands….
Coworker: What?
Fearful: (in a similar helpful tone) I noticed that you didn’t wash your hands after using the bathroom.
Coworker: What’s it to you?
Fearful: Well, that’s how diseases are spread.
Coworker: Mind your own business! (Other responses include Shut the fuck up! And possibly, Back off bitch!)
Ms. Theologian had a coworker who did in fact post informative information on the mirror in the women’s room after noticing that certain coworkers NEVER washed their hands. The poster lasted (and encouraged some gossip) for years.
If you honestly think that pointing out a flaw in someone else’s behavior will correct the behavior, then by all means go right ahead.
But Ms. Theologian has discovered that most people don’t like additional criticism in their lives, especially Ms. Theologian. You might as well talk to you boss and possibly launch a public education campaign, which seems to be the approach of the cdc. Check out the Hand Hygiene Resource Center or the Clean Hands Coalition.
Just so you know, Ms. Theologian just washed her hands and used a condom (Second part is a joke. Mostly)
–Ms. Theologian