The Boogey Man

SubGrapHR

Here is a situation that I would love some feedback on--

 I have an employee, no one knows who he is, who insists on placing boogers on the wall above the urinal in the men's room.  Yep, that's right.  We are a professional organization full of highly intelligent individuals yet I have this yahoo doing this.  Obviously I can't place a camera in there nor do I want to.  I have sent notices requesting cleanliness in ALL activities (trying to not let everyone know I have a childish SOB placing boogers on the wall).  Any advice on how I can go about deterring this behavior?  As odd as it is, I need to resolve this issue as the cleaning crew refuses to clean them off the wall so that leaves some poor soul to do it for the company--yep--that poor soul who volunteered was me.  So, guidance please, before I DNA sample all my employees against the boogey man.  Thanks!

LauLan

I can't wait to see the answer to this one...we have the same problem!  (GROSS!)

6396208

Unfortunatly I have had this problem with the ladies room we could never figure out who was doing it although I had my suspisions. I also never came up with a way to stop it.  I finnaly left the job and went to a new company.  Good Luck

BarbieW

This is gross. I think I would feel very comfortable putting notices with large letters up in the bathrooms and even in the stalls that tell people what is expected including that they will not wipe things on the wall such as nasal discharge!  If it continues, you could take a more drasic step and require them to get a key from the receptionist so that they will feel a little less anonymous.

SubGrapHR

Ironic that you say that Barbie as I have attempted the sign approach only to find these fantastic little nose candies placed on the sign itself.  This is one individual, if I catch him, I will thoroughly enjoy terminating.  Thank you for your support everyone!  All ideas welcome....

JuliannBrown

Do you have staff meetings?  If so, I would ask for everyone's help and let them know the situation.  There is always someone who would be quick to point out the culprit.  I am sure other people would like to see the boogey man be disciplined also. 

cmanders

I have no advice to add to this discussion but that is thoroughly disgusting. It is also horrible that there are more than one of you who have had this problem. You poor, poor souls. You would think you worked in a daycare, although I am sure you do not.

SPDSKTR

The key idea is pretty good.  I would add a sign-in/out sheet if permissable.  Then someone could be posted as a "Porcelain Facility Monitor" (coined the term myself) and check the wall after each sign-out.  Shazam.  Booger Wiper, Ph.D. caught.

babaHR

Hope you wear gloves when you are doing your good deeds. 

We have had other types of discharge on our stall walls (looks accidental), but the cleaning company either refuses to touch it, ignores it, or just doesn't see it.  I have brought the subject up with the facilities manager, but always get the same response "I'll tell them [the cleaners]."

SPDSKTR

Gloves are a necessity when doing any work with any bodily fluid. 

Sounds to me like the cleaners wouldn't stand a chance in an elementary school.  [:P]  You know... vomit here, urine there, boogers elsewhere...

If you're able to, get the manager and the cleaners in a meeting.  I mean... who in their right mind enjoys human waste on walls?  If the management says, "I'll handle it," you need to make sure they do.  People have that little tendency to say they'll do something and then blow it off for the longest time.

pblas

I know this post has been out here for a while and don't know if you've solved your "sneeky snot" problem but you might try putting a small mirror about eye level above the urinal. It's easy to tag the wall when you think no one is looking but may be different when your looking at yourself in the mirror.

SPDSKTR

Best.  Solution.  EVER.

-Justin

SubGrapHR

Funny solution with the mirror, thanks.  Good news to all, after some sleuthing and some strong-arm tactics to get some information the culprit was found and dealt with swiftly.  We are now a proud, booger-free workplace!

HR01

I am so glad to hear that you were able to resolve your problem.   I would love to know exactly what steps you took to get the information, because we have had similar situations in the past.  However, ours were much more extreme and disgusting!!