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#Post#: 44592--------------------------------------------------
This is *not* communal soap
By: honeybee42 Date: January 2, 2020, 1:13 pm
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It's a little bit aggravating, but maybe there's some wording
that I can stick in my mind for being able to respond at the
time that isn't too abrupt.
Background: many years ago, I got a level of skin injury from
cold that has left skin on my hand (basically over the
knuckles--put on a pair of biking gloves and see where the
openings are, that's the area in question) extremely sensitive
to a lot of substances, so I have to be very cautious about what
soap/moisturizer and so forth that I use to prevent reactions.
(Once, when my preferred moisturizer stopped being produced, I
was looking for a new one while visiting my parents. My mom
brought out one that she used, to see if it would work. I was
within 3 feet of the bathroom, and put a very tiny (like the
diameter of an ink pen) amount, and immediately the skin turned
red and by the time I got it washed off in the bathroom sink I
had a blister from the exposure!). So when they changed soaps
in the work bathroom, I tried the new soap while there was still
some old soap (which I knew I could use) in the bathroom.
Immediately started to feel skin burning, washed again with the
old soap, and still ended up with lots of tiny cracks and blood
oozing up on my hands. So, I now bring my own soap (basically,
the same soap I use at home, I have bought an extra bottle that
stays at my work desk and I carry it back and forth to the
bathroom when I'm headed there).
So--no one else likes the new soap (everyone finds it really
drying, but I'm the only one who starts oozing blood from it),
but there's no good place to leave the soap in the stall so I
leave it on the counter while I'm in the stall. This has been
months since the change in soap (I am now on the fourth fill of
my soap bottle). So -- what to say to people who cheerfully say
"I'm so glad you were in the bathroom just now, so I could use
your soap"? >:(
#Post#: 44594--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: kckgirl Date: January 2, 2020, 1:30 pm
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Is there a hook on the inside of the stall door? Could you take
a bag in with you and hang it on the hook?
If you don't want to or cannot do that, just say that your soap
is the only soap you can safely use and you need to keep it for
your own use.
#Post#: 44595--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: LurkingGurl Date: January 2, 2020, 1:38 pm
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You could tell a little white lie and say that there is a
medication compounded into your soap that they probably don't
want to be exposed to.
If they ask, you can say that it's a prescription topical
antibiotic or anti-fungal that your doctor gave you to add to
that particular soap, very expensive even with insurance.
In essence,make it so that "your soap" is actually your
"medicine," which, in a way, it is.
Other than that, you could take it in a small unmarked container
that you keep in your purse so that no one even knows what it
is.
But if you need to leave it out for even a moment just
say--"please don't, it's prescription!"
#Post#: 44600--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Gellchom Date: January 2, 2020, 3:04 pm
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Sounds like it's time to ask management to get better soap for
everyone. Even if it's not good enough for you, it might be
good enough for others so they stop asking to use yours.
Failing that, if it's a limited group of people who use your
rest room, ask if everyone wants to chip in to buy your kind of
soap.
#Post#: 44603--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: NFPwife Date: January 2, 2020, 3:17 pm
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[quote author=Gellchom link=topic=1467.msg44600#msg44600
date=1577999086]
Sounds like it's time to ask management to get better soap for
everyone. Even if it's not good enough for you, it might be
good enough for others so they stop asking to use yours.
Failing that, if it's a limited group of people who use your
rest room, ask if everyone wants to chip in to buy your kind of
soap.
[/quote]
I'll second taking it to management, it seems like everyone is
having some kind of problem with this soap and it's reasonable
for management to make a change. Maybe it won't be the old one,
but, hopefully, it will be something your co-workers can
tolerate.
I like asking everyone to pitch in. I'd be tempted to put a
little cup beside it when you leave it on the counter with a
little soap pitch in sign. I'd want the sign to make it clear
that they aren't donating, but, rather, paying for the privilege
of the better soap. Maybe a "Please contribute .25 cents per
pump to cover costs." Then if someone yells into you that
they're so glad you're in the restroom, you call back, "Please
leave a quarter to cover costs. Thanks!"
Barring that, I think you have to find a way to take it into the
stall.
#Post#: 44606--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Rose Red Date: January 2, 2020, 3:30 pm
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If there's no hook, can you put the soap in a plastic bag and
place it on the floor of the stall? Or even just laying a paper
towel on the floor and put the soap on top.
Otherwise, putting it in an unmarked container good idea. Tell
them it's for your own use for medical reasons.
#Post#: 44637--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Aleko Date: January 3, 2020, 2:40 am
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[quote]putting it in an unmarked container good idea[/quote]
Better yet, if you can get a vaguely 'medical'-looking one,
opaque so there 'might be anything in there' - i.e. nobody but
you knows whether it's actually soap or is a cream, gel,
ointment or whatever - and mock up a pharmacy label saying 'USE
ONLY AS DIRECTED' and giving a string of alarming-sounding
chemical ingredients.
But yes: go to the management and point out that all the staff
find the soap currently provided so unpleasant that they keep
pinching yours instead, and that while you sympathise with them
you're finding it expensive.
#Post#: 44674--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Twik Date: January 3, 2020, 9:08 am
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Do you have a health and safety committee? If so, bring this up
at once! The company shouldn't be exposing you to things that
make your skin bleed, for goodness sake. And providing soap for
people to wash their hands in the lavatory is a minimal safety
requirement, not an optional perk.
#Post#: 44679--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Kimberami Date: January 3, 2020, 9:15 am
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Why don't you try asking people to pool together to buy a new
communal soap to leave in the bathroom?
Otherwise, are there hooks in the bathroom stall? Pop the soap
in a small bag and hang it in the stall with you.
#Post#: 44687--------------------------------------------------
Re: This is *not* communal soap
By: Chez Miriam Date: January 3, 2020, 9:34 am
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My mother-in-law gave me a really nice over-the-shoulder bag
that is really small. It would hold my wallet, camera, and car
keys but none of the other cr@p that I lug around, so I'll only
use it on a quick dash to the supermarket of going out with
friends [so not shopping, reading].
Could something like that work? The soap stays in the bag, you
put the bag on across your body and just take the soap out when
you need it and put it straight back.
If it were liquid soap [rather than a bar], you only have to
have the pump nozzle sticking out of the bag.
Hope management are amenable to changing the soap back, as I'm
never in favour of employees subsidising their employer [which
is what is happening if the company is costing you money in
soap].
Good luck with finding an solution that works for you.
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