After pretending to be CIA agents, watching porn at their desks, and building "man caves," employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are now pooping in the hallway, according to Government Executive.
The latest scandal involving EPA employee conduct was revealed in an email obtained by the publication, which detailed how an employee at their headquarters in Denver placed "feces in the hallway." The EPA declined to comment on the matter.
Government Executive reports:
It appears, however, that a regional office has reached a new low: Management for Region 8 in Denver, Colo., wrote an email earlier this year to all staff in the area pleading with them to stop inappropriate bathroom behavior, including defecating in the hallway.
In the email, obtained by Government Executive, Deputy Regional Administrator Howard Cantor mentioned "several incidents" in the building, including clogging the toilets with paper towels and "an individual placing feces in the hallway" outside the restroom.
Confounded by what to make of this occurrence, EPA management "consulted" with workplace violence "national expert" John Nicoletti, who said that hallway feces is in fact a health and safety risk. He added the behavior was "very dangerous" and the individuals responsible would "probably escalate" their actions.
Cantor said that management is "taking this situation very seriously and will take whatever actions are necessary to identify and prosecute these individuals. Government Executive referred to the employee as the "poop bandit," and noted that Cantor is looking for tips with any knowledge of the incident to come forward.
The EPA refused to comment, saying that it is an "ongoing personnel matter."
"EPA’s actions in response to recent workplace issues have been deliberate and have focused on ensuring a safe work environment for our employees," said EPA spokesman Richard Mylott. "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."