New hire becomes the next victim to the office “Chatty Cathy” employee every time she goes to the bathroom, begs the internet for help: ‘She’s the sweetest… I don’t know how to stop it.'

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A businesswoman leaves her office to head to the bathroom and avoid the office gossip.

"My coworker follows me to the bathroom for chats and I don't know how to stop it"

A few months ago I started my first full-time job, my first "big girl job." It's been amazing so far. Everyone is so nice. Maybe just a little too nice.
I'm an engineer in research and design, which means a predominantly male field and a predominantly male office. There's only one other woman there, the sweetest older lady you could imagine. But she's
started doing this thing where every time I get up to go to the bathroom, she gets up and goes too.
An older businesswoman, dressed in business professional attire, looks out with a smirk, ready to talk.
First time, I figured it was a coincidence. Second time, still fine. Third time, okay, this is a little strange. By the fourth and fifth time, I started wondering if she's watching the hallway waiting for me to walk by.
Is this the end of the world? No, of course not. But she loves to talk, and I mean full-blown conversations, while we're both in there peeing. And here's the
A row of clean bathroom stalls at a business office.
thing, my bathroom break is my me time. It's the one little pocket of peace I get during the day. So when my bladder is just trying to do its thing while I'm also expected to hold a conversation, that is not peaceful. At all.
I just don't know what to do about this. It feels too small and weird to bring up directly, but it's driving me a little crazy.
A co-worker looks at you in the office hallway while holding a coffee, ready to chat your ear off.
friendldiglove Is there a one person bathroom somewhere in the building you could use instead? Maybe when you close the door on them, they'll get the hint. Maybe not immediately, but a few weeks maximum ought to do it.
Neat_Caterpillar_ OP sadly no, only the shared one on our floor. good idea tho, might be my backup plan if the headphones/hint route doesn't work
SnoopyMcFell Download the diarrhoea scene from Dumb & Dumber onto your phone and play it on full volume - weird her out.
BeeFree66 Sounds like you need a personal space boundary. I don't know how to politely tell coworker to "leave me alone to pass breakfast/lunch/snacks in peace." I'm pretty tactless when people invade my personal space. Consider just telling coworker you'd prefer to use the toilet alone, you prefer privacy, and you'll talk with her much later [not necessarily right after using the toilet].
Neat_Caterpillar_ OP yeah that's the move, just worried it'll sound harsh since she's sweet not malicious. might soften it like "hey i'm a private bathroom person lol"

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