The office bathroom isn’t exactly a place to hang out. However, considering the length of the workday, and the human body, one can expect to make several visits a day.

In my experience, most co-worker discussions do not revolve around what happened in the bathroom that day (which to me, is a great thing). With that said, there’s plenty of awkward moments that I wish would somehow go away.

Most are unavoidable, depending on the bathroom design, and others are dependent on your fellow co-workers, and their personalities. Here are a few classic bathroom moments that could happen to anyone (or maybe it’s just my bad luck):

The bathroom door knockout

Bathroom doors do not allow you to see what’s happening on the other side. Obviously, there is a reason for this design.

But what about that time after you’ve washed your hands, and headed out the door, when all of a sudden you nearly have your nose broken. Without a person seeing who is coming and going, that bathroom door can swing open at 100 MPH. My life has flashed before my eyes on several occasions. Nothing like a fresh bloody nose on your way out of the bathroom.

The salutation as you exit

You’ve done your business, washed your hands, and are ready to get the heck out of the bathroom. All of a sudden you hear a “Hey, how’s it going?” from the back corner of the bathroom. Now you are stuck in a holding pattern by the entrance. As co-workers walk in, they soon realize you are discussing your weekend with a squatter.

Flatulence and your boss

For the next few weeks, every question you bring up to your superior will retrace that awkward moment you experienced in the bathroom. Even the highest level executives can’t escape the human body and its digestive system.

There’s nothing like breaking silence in the bathroom with methods other than speaking. Some things are harder than others to forget.

Finding out the hand washing truth

Can you look at a co-worker the same way if they do not wash their hands before exiting the bathroom? Do you continue to shake their hands? Some would say that these secrets are better left unknown. I would beg to differ.

The nester who doesn’t give a sh*t

As you step into the bathroom, you realize your co-worker who’s washing their hands is a nester. If you don’t know what a bathroom bird’s nest looks like: here’s an example. They are the same people who store their shoes in plastic bags when they get home, not that there’s anything wrong with that. A little consideration would be nice though, having to shuffle through a few inches of toilet paper just isn’t fun.

Bathroom Stall Hand-off

Taking the bathroom stall baton from an executive is always awkward. As you wait your turn, or even shuffle side ways to creep into the stall, it is best to try and minimize conversation. I mean, do you really need to follow-up on that email RIGHT NOW?

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Of course this list could go on and on. Feel free to comment on your own personal experiences, and ways you’ve learned to avoid them.

One thing is for sure, the bathroom is an awkward place, and that fact isn’t changing any time soon.