An administrator at a regional Environmental Protection Agency office in Denver, Colo. had to educate employees about bathroom etiquette.
Deputy Regional Administrator Howard Cantor wrote an email to staff earlier this year lecturing them about bathroom behavior and telling them not to defecate in the hallways, Government Executive reported.
Cantor told employees about multiple inappropriate incidents, including “an individual placing feces in the hallway” near a restroom and someone clogging the toilets with paper towels, according to Government Executive.
“Management is taking this situation very seriously and will take whatever actions are necessary to identify and prosecute these individuals,” Cantor wrote in the email, asking employees to notify their supervisors with any knowledge about the incidents.
The EPA consulted a workplace violence expert, John Nicoletti, who said the poop-related incidents were “very dangerous” and that feces in the hallway posed a health risk to workers.
EPA spokesman Richard Mylot would not provide further details to Government Executive.
“EPA cannot comment on ongoing personnel matters. EPA’s actions in response to recent workplace issues have been deliberate and have focused on ensuring a safe work environment for our employees. Our brief consultation with Dr. Nicoletti on this matter, a resource who regularly provides our office with training and expertise on workplace issues, reflects our commitment to securing a safe workplace,” Mylot said in a statement.
