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Whether it's the sound, the smell, or the fear of being caught mid-mishap, the office bathroom can be a surprisingly stressful space. For some workers, the anxiety runs so deep they'd rather hand in their notice than face the embarrassment.
We surveyed 1,000 employees across the UK and the US to discover just how many people are quietly dreading their next workplace trip to the loo and what they're doing to avoid it.
Key Findings
- 76% of US employees and 75% of UK employees have experienced bathroom anxiety at work.
- Nearly 1 in 10 US employees (9%) have considered quitting their job due to a humiliating bathroom incident at work.
- 1 in 5 US employees would rather quit their job than talk to their manager about a bathroom issue.
- 83% of Gen Z employees have experienced bathroom anxiety, and 8% have considered quitting their job because of a mortifying moment in the loo.
Covering Up Mishaps and Dodging Conversations
Bathroom anxiety affects most employees, with Gen Z and female workers reporting the highest levels of loo-related stress. Top work bathroom fears also vary by country.
In both the US and UK, three in four employees (76% and 75%, respectively) said they've experienced bathroom anxiety at work. Among Gen Z employees, that figure jumps to 83%. Some Gen Zers (8%) have even considered quitting their job due to a humiliating bathroom incident at work. Women were also 24% more likely than men to say they've felt this anxiety on the job.
To avoid judgement, 46% of US workers and 43% in the UK said they wait until the bathroom is empty. A third in the US avoid certain bathrooms based on who might be inside, compared to 23% in the UK. Others hold it in, with 16% of US workers saying they wait until meetings are over, slightly more than 12% in the UK.
Some try to mask their bathroom breaks altogether, as 36% of US employees and 34% in the UK have used a fake work excuse to sneak away. In the US, nearly 1 in 10 have even thought about quitting because of an embarrassing moment in the loo.
Some Workers Would Rather Quit Than Speak Up
Instead of talking to a manager about a bathroom-related issue, many employees would choose silence or even resignation
In the US, 1 in 5 workers said a manager had denied them a bathroom break, which is nearly three times the rate of UK workers. The same share of Americans (20%) said they would rather quit their job than speak to a manager about a bathroom issue, compared to 1 in 6 in the UK. A lack of access or communication around basic needs can quickly become an emergency situation.
Nearly half of UK employees (47%) and 40% of US workers said they would lie to their manager or hide the problem if they faced a bathroom-related issue at work. Some have taken extreme measures — 11% of US workers and 8% in the UK admitted to hiding soiled underwear while at work.
More than half of UK workers (51%) said they would never speak up about a bathroom emergency, slightly higher than 46% in the US. When it came to how they'd react to someone else's emergency, 15% of UK workers and 13% of US workers said they would avoid the person.
Some would tell a friend later about their own loo mishap (30% US, 24% UK), while others would just laugh it off (27% US, 24% UK). US workers were also more than twice as likely to send a private message on a work platform to let a colleague know (5% compared to 2% in the UK).
UK and US Cities With the Highest Workplace Poo Anxiety per Capita
Some cities are feeling the pressure more than others, and it shows in their Google search habits. We analysed data from January 2024 to April 2025 for 70 search terms related to workplace bathroom anxiety and adjusted for population to find where it's the most intense.
In the UK, Wolverhampton came in first, ahead of Bristol and Leeds. Swansea, Edinburgh, and Glasgow also ranked high, indicating that this issue spans the isles, from urban hubs to smaller cities.
Top 10 UK Cities With the Most Workplace Poo Anxiety per Capita
- Wolverhampton, West Midlands
- Bristol, South West England
- Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Swansea, Wales
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Coventry, West Midlands
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- Portsmouth, Hampshire
In the US, Columbus, Georgia, ranked highest for search interest, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Other high-anxiety hotspots included Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis.
Top 10 US Cities With the Most Workplace Poo Anxiety per Capita
- Columbus, Georgia
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Seattle, Washington
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A Taboo Topic That's Costing More Than Comfort
Workplace bathroom anxiety is more than just an awkward moment, with many employees feeling like it's a major source of stress. From faking excuses to fearing judgment, people are going to great lengths to avoid embarrassment. With growing awareness and changing work habits, it may be time to flush away the stigma of
Methodology
We surveyed 500 American and 500 British employees to explore how they handle workplace bathroom anxiety. Among Americans, the average age was 38; 47% were male, 52% were female, and 1% were non-binary. Generationally, 3% were baby boomers, 29% were Gen X, 54% were millennials, and 14% were Gen Z. Among Brits, the average age was 42; 39% were male, and 60% were female. By generation, 14% were baby boomers, 34% were Gen X, 37% were millennials, and 15% were Gen Z.
We also analysed Google Trends search volume data from January 2024 to April 2025 to determine which US and UK cities are experiencing the highest bathroom anxiety at work. Our analysis included 70 search terms related to bathroom anxiety at work. We tracked these trends across the 50 most populous cities in the US and the UK. To ensure reliability, only keywords showing a consistent upward trend during the study period were included. We then ranked the top trending searches per location using a per capita adjustment to spotlight significant deviations in search interest.
About QS Supplies
QS Supplies specialises in providing top-of-the-line bathroom products to customers across the UK. Our comprehensive selection includes everything from shower doors and electric showers to complete shower sets, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your bathroom renovation.
Fair Use Statement
You're free to share this data about workplace bathroom fears for noncommercial purposes, as long as you link back to the source and credit QS Supplies as the originator of the study.
