Telling work colleagues

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Hi I'm hoping to get some advice??

As I'm sure some people know on this forum i suffer from nocturnal enuresis however over the last few months I've been having day time issues. Most days i can get to the toilet with seconds to spare and maybe couple of times a month i will have accidents which i will use a nappy /diaper as i loose complete control I know my own body i know when I'm having a good bladder day and bad day. Is it the right thing to do to tell a Manager at work so they know what to expect if i have a bad bladder day or should i say nothing.

Steve

 

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Honestly, personally I only told my siblings (2) and some of my immediate family. As far as I'm concern I don't want anyone else to know. I have wonderful support from my PCP and all my team, that understand my issues and will help in any way I ask them.

 

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I was able to work without telling the boss which might bring others in on it.

 

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I don't know whether you are already doing this, but I would first try wearing good quality diapers with boosters every day and taking planned frequent bathroom breaks to avoid having to rush to the toilet.

 

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I havent had to tell people I have worked with many times myself. I worked usps in the past and for taking test and training (some last all day) it was necessary to carry in what I needed in a back pack which means getting past security checks at some of these facilities. The post office I worked at the lady manager became somewhat aware that I had a condition that I had to attend to and at one point told me I could leave what I needed in the men’s room so I don’t have to carry what I needed in and out everyday. After 911 most government training or anything I have been to if you have a bag it’s goin to get at least a quick look thru when your entering the building and often being assigned a locker to store any bags in, wasnt a big deal they never commented or reacted at all. As a general rule I tell people about it on a need to know basis and this is how I am with just about everything. I probably share more here than I do with anyone in my life.

 

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@nappyman Hi Steve. Most of my problems are during the day, so I have told my boss that if I have to leave a meeting it is for a medical problem. I haven't gone into the details. In the two years of incontinence since having surgery I have only had a major leak once. That day the leak guard inside must have torn and a sudden bladder spasms caused a flood and the liquid ran down my leg. This is the only time I have changed into the spare trousers I keep at work. I would hold off telling your boss until it becomes necessary, mine didn't seem bothered, but some might? Phil

 

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Phil and the others basically said what I was going to. No need in telling anyone that doesn’t need to know. If the need arises just say you have a medical issue and you are taking care of it.
Hope you have a great day!
Jim

 

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If you need support or special accommodations you should tell your boss. As a supervisor i can not legally tell other employees about other people’s medical challenges. Medical conditions cannot be a factor when considering raises, promotions etc.... however if you don’t tell him and he sees performance related issues(I.e. too many bathroom trips). You can be held accountable for those issues despite your difficulties. You do have protections under the Fmla act and ada act. If you have concerns let him now.

 

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I agree with Mightychi. That is why I encouraged you to wear the best possible diapers and booster pads every day, to minimize having to rush to the bathroom. Also, to make planned bathroom trips, where you're not rushing. If you have to make numerous sudden trips to the bathroom, then I encourage you to tell your boss to protect yourself and your job. To my thinking, it is important to tell the people who need to know, and people who will be helpful, but not anyone else.

 

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I would let HR and your immediate supervisor know what's going on. By law, they cannot divulge any personal information to anyone.

 

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@nappyman

Well here are my thoughts. At the present time I do not see the need for you to tell your employer. You seem to be handling it quite well. You have a system that is working so no need to involve others in your personal matters. Now if your situation changes and there is a need for special accommodations then notifying your employer might be needed so that accommodation can be arraigned.

Now having said that, if you feel the need to tell, then let them know. It is your choice and yours alone on when and who to tell.

Like @Ruhappy said I am more open and honest about my bedwetting here than I am with my friends and co-workers in real life. Only my immediate family and a few close and long time friends know. Now I do recognize that being enuretic does not have the same issues and concerns as being incontinent and dealing with day issues at work.

 

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I've been in my current job, diaperd 24/7 for a little over a year and as far as I know, nobody knows. Luckily I work in a ridiculously awesome building and we have a few "secret" bathrooms. there's one in the parking garage under the building and there's also a locker room in another part of the complex. I rent a locker for $10 a month and just keep stuff in there and run down to change a few times per day. We are biz casual and I wear slacks with a tucked in shirt so I don't really know if people can tell I have some extra padding but no one has ever said anything or given any indication that they know.

In my previous job, no such luck. I used to leave the building and use the wendy's restroom. It was a pain but I really wanted to keep it hidden.

Regardless, I'd never tell anyone unless I HAD to, like if my diaper failed and I had wet pants and people could see. It's no one's business and nobody needs to know.

FWIW I work in finance in an office building. People who work on an assembly line or something might have more difficulty if frequent bathroom trips are necessary. I can get up and leave my desk whenever I please.