Administrator
Staff member
Happy New Year! What's your biggest challenge when dealing with incontinence in the workplace? How do you manage it?
Biggest workplace challenge
- Thread starter Administrator
- Start date
Callahantr89
New member
My biggest challenge when dealing with incontinence in the workplace is time management, not with my job duties, but with my incontinence itself.
I’ve been urinary incontinent for the past 15 years, so at this point I’ve found my groove with most of the basics. I know which products work best for me, I know where all the “good” bathrooms are in my town and at each work location, and since I work off a laptop, I always have my supplies with me in a bag. Those parts have become routine over time.
Where things get tricky is that I work at six different locations within my company. Between meetings, travel time, and just getting caught up in the flow of work, it can be difficult to time bathroom breaks or plan when I need to change my brief. When that timing is off, it can lead to the occasional leak or skin irritation, both of which are frustrating and completely avoidable with better planning, but not always easy to manage in real time.
What’s helped me most is being intentional and proactive. If I know I’m going to have a particularly busy day, I’ll set reminders or even schedule a 10-minute “meeting” or phone call for myself. That gives me a hard stop and a built-in reason to step away from whatever I’m doing. It’s not something I do every day, only when I know my schedule is packed, but it makes a huge difference.
I’ve also learned that clear, professional communication goes a long way. You don’t have to explain bathroom issues or disclose anything personal. Simply letting colleagues know you have a hard out or another commitment is usually enough, and in my experience, people are very understanding.
Managing incontinence at work is really about planning, flexibility, and giving yourself permission to prioritize your own needs. It’s not always perfect, but finding systems that work for you can make the workplace feel far more manageable and a lot less stressful.
I’ve been urinary incontinent for the past 15 years, so at this point I’ve found my groove with most of the basics. I know which products work best for me, I know where all the “good” bathrooms are in my town and at each work location, and since I work off a laptop, I always have my supplies with me in a bag. Those parts have become routine over time.
Where things get tricky is that I work at six different locations within my company. Between meetings, travel time, and just getting caught up in the flow of work, it can be difficult to time bathroom breaks or plan when I need to change my brief. When that timing is off, it can lead to the occasional leak or skin irritation, both of which are frustrating and completely avoidable with better planning, but not always easy to manage in real time.
What’s helped me most is being intentional and proactive. If I know I’m going to have a particularly busy day, I’ll set reminders or even schedule a 10-minute “meeting” or phone call for myself. That gives me a hard stop and a built-in reason to step away from whatever I’m doing. It’s not something I do every day, only when I know my schedule is packed, but it makes a huge difference.
I’ve also learned that clear, professional communication goes a long way. You don’t have to explain bathroom issues or disclose anything personal. Simply letting colleagues know you have a hard out or another commitment is usually enough, and in my experience, people are very understanding.
Managing incontinence at work is really about planning, flexibility, and giving yourself permission to prioritize your own needs. It’s not always perfect, but finding systems that work for you can make the workplace feel far more manageable and a lot less stressful.
MountainLake622
New member
Biggest challenge at my workplace is inadequate bathroom facilities. The most convenient bathroom has three urinals and one stall for about 8 men who work in that building. It's a nice big stall with a fold down diaper table (infant size) where I can set my diaper supplies. I wear tab style briefs, so it's nice to not have to take my pants and shoes off to change.
But, if someone else is using the stall, that's an issue.
Also it's very loud changing my brief.
Wish we had a more convenient private bathroom I could use.
There is a one toilet bathroom in a basement of a building nearby. But it is cramped and there is no place to set anything except a very small porcelain sink. Plus it is cold and not very clean but at least somewhat private.
For this reason I usually wear a maximum absorbancy overnight brief and a PUL diaper pant, since I don't always have a convenient place to change.
I am mostly urinary incontinent, but I have some bowel urgency and leakage. I do sometimes have bowl accidents if someone else is using the stall which is frustrating.
But, if someone else is using the stall, that's an issue.
Also it's very loud changing my brief.
Wish we had a more convenient private bathroom I could use.
There is a one toilet bathroom in a basement of a building nearby. But it is cramped and there is no place to set anything except a very small porcelain sink. Plus it is cold and not very clean but at least somewhat private.
For this reason I usually wear a maximum absorbancy overnight brief and a PUL diaper pant, since I don't always have a convenient place to change.
I am mostly urinary incontinent, but I have some bowel urgency and leakage. I do sometimes have bowl accidents if someone else is using the stall which is frustrating.
Administrator
Staff member
Do you all feel comfortable addressing these challenges with your HR groups? Wondering if some type of workplace toolkit that you could share with them might help.
Callahantr89
New member
That’s a really good question, and I think the answer is very individual.
Personally, I’m somewhat cautious about involving HR unless there’s a clear need. While HR exists to support employees, comfort levels vary and not everyone feels safe or empowered disclosing something as personal as incontinence. Especially when we have already found ways to manage it. For me, the goal has always been to minimize how much attention my condition requires in the workplace, not increase it.
With that being said a HR/workplace toolkit can only help the situation and not make it worse.
Personally, I’m somewhat cautious about involving HR unless there’s a clear need. While HR exists to support employees, comfort levels vary and not everyone feels safe or empowered disclosing something as personal as incontinence. Especially when we have already found ways to manage it. For me, the goal has always been to minimize how much attention my condition requires in the workplace, not increase it.
With that being said a HR/workplace toolkit can only help the situation and not make it worse.
MountainLake622
New member
I work for a small company and we don't really have an HR person. There is a 1800 number you can call for confidential things, but this is pretty specific and it would be traced back to me easily. I do have a private office, ironically, with a door that locks but it has big window that opens out onto a public lobby. Even if I closed the blinds I wouldn't feel comfortable changing there.
You must log in or register to post here.
Similar threads
