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Original poster

Unisex toilets in new office - dread going into work

416 replies

SocialMol · 24/07/2025 20:32

The company I work for moved to a new office a few weeks ago. It is brand new and shared 50/50 with another company. We have our own side of the floor, key card protected so completely separate.

However, the toilets are in the middle of the block so are shared with the other company. These are unisex - several cubicles with shared area for sinks/dryers etc.

The other company is a sales one (they run a call centre there) and the demographic of their workforce is mainly young men in their 20’s.

There have been several instances of inappropriate comments made to staff in the toilets. Crass stuff like ‘give that cubicle 5 minutes’ to cruder comments directed at or about women - the men will often be talking about their own colleagues in a derogatory way in front of us.

The final straw for me was this afternoon when I walked out of a cubicle and a spotty young lad said he will ‘join me next time’ 😷

Our company are aware of our concerns but said there’s nothing they can do, as the toilets are designed to be ‘inclusive’ and similar to the other modern office blocks they viewed.

I don’t really know what I’m looking for by posting this to be honest, just wanted to know if anyone else finds this sort of set up completely ridiculous?

OP posts:
scoobysnaxx · 25/07/2025 07:24

ThatLilacTiger · 25/07/2025 07:07

Working from home where you also have unisex toilets?

Get a grip.

Show quote history

With your own family??? What an absolutely stupid thick comment!

BellissimoGecko · 25/07/2025 07:23

Here you are - the law for your boss: https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/workplace-toilets-know-your-rights/

BellissimoGecko · 25/07/2025 07:21

5128gap · 24/07/2025 21:24

I'm no fan of unisex toilets, but I think the real issue here is that the company sharing your space seems to be staffed with feral young misogynists who clearly haven't recieved training on sexual harassment laws. Hopefully your own employer has and will realise they now have a preventative duty to you. Raise it with your manager, name it for the sexual harassment it is, and your employer is legally obliged to find a way to make it stop.

This. But your org is also breaking the law. Your company must supply separate loos plus washing facilities, not mixed washing facilities.

GCAcademic · 25/07/2025 07:21

ThatLilacTiger · 25/07/2025 07:07

Working from home where you also have unisex toilets?

Get a grip.

Show quote history

Stupid comment, unless you have a sign on your front door saying your bathroom facilities are open to the general public.

NeedToChangeName · 25/07/2025 07:20

It's a legal requirement to have single sex toilets. Are the cubicles floor to ceiling? If so, they comply. If not, complain

And report harassment to HR. Unacceptable. And don't be fobbed off that's its banter

Whynotjustengageyourbrain · 25/07/2025 07:19

Yuk I hate unisex tickets. Would rather share the ladies with a trans any day. Knew this was going to happen 😖

GCAcademic · 25/07/2025 07:19

I suggest you post on FWR, OP. This thread is full of people who (a) haven't read the OP properly and (b) don't know the law.

windyfarmers · 25/07/2025 07:19

I'd report any comments to the company they work for, they are sexually harassing people in their work place.

Radioundermypillow · 25/07/2025 07:18

scoobysnaxx · 25/07/2025 07:17

You are absolutely insane. 😂 do some research.

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Bit of an extreme response tbf.

LillyPJ · 25/07/2025 07:17

AnSolas · 25/07/2025 07:14

The building floor the OP works on has not got single sex provision. It has not even got lawful provision.

The designer has not provided it while designing
The developer has not provided it while fitting out.
The landlord has not provided it while renting it out.
The OPs employer has not provided it while buying the use of floor space.

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I apologise. I mis-typed! I meant mixed sex, not single-sex. I can't go back and edit my comment as it would make any replies look wrong so I apologise again.

scoobysnaxx · 25/07/2025 07:17

LoserWinner · 24/07/2025 22:09

That’s hardly likely to be a risk in office toilets. I despair at the lack of common sense and hypersensitivity of people today.

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You are absolutely insane. 😂 do some research.

GCAcademic · 25/07/2025 07:16

AlphaFemaleNotBeta · 25/07/2025 06:51

@99bottlesofkombuchabut the male colleagues aren’t going to change their personalities because of 2 toilets? Even if there were 2 toilets it still appears she works with creepy and predatory men.

Edited

She doesn't work with them. She would not need to encounter them at all were it not for the illegal toilets her employer is forcing her to use.

AnSolas · 25/07/2025 07:16

LillyPJ · 25/07/2025 06:58

The men can make inappropriate comments in other places too. Separate toilets don't do away with ignorant, sexist men.

Show quote history

Try read the first post.

ThatLilacTiger · 25/07/2025 07:16

NextToNever · 25/07/2025 07:11

You win the prize for most idiotic comment. 🥇 It’s a bit different sharing toilets with men in your family who you trust and live with, than random blokes. If you don’t understand that, you need help.

Show quote history

What demographic of men are most responsible for violent and sexual crimes against women?

Men they know or are related to.

scoobysnaxx · 25/07/2025 07:15

Thunderdcc · 24/07/2025 21:42

Given the comments etc it is not outside the realm of possibility that these are the kind of men who put cameras in toilets. So I think

1 - you are not prepared to go back into the office until the toilets have been swept for bugs / cameras. And this may sound over the top but the other company need to have a long hard look at their workforce culture.

2 - the toilets need to be designated single sex and it sounds like the ladies will need to be locked with a radar key or similar so these men are unable to access it

Or you go onto another floor for the toilet and see if the people in those companies are more civilised.

Omg I didn’t even think about bugs. Up skirting is a problem so this wouldn’t surprise me!

MyDeftDuck · 25/07/2025 07:14

You have already spoken to your management who claim there’s nothing they can do………..time to step this up.
Whenever you go to the toilet have your phone with you on either voice record or video ( no need to point it at anyone ), have it in your pocket. You will then capture everything that is said to you which you can then transcribe into a journal with exact dates and times. Keep this going for a few weeks and then take it to your management and insist they speak to whoever is in charge of the other company……it is NOT acceptable under any circumstances.

AnSolas · 25/07/2025 07:14

LillyPJ · 25/07/2025 06:55

They might have single-sex provision for perfectly valid reasons (not just cost) and it's not reasonable to assume anything.

Show quote history

The building floor the OP works on has not got single sex provision. It has not even got lawful provision.

The designer has not provided it while designing
The developer has not provided it while fitting out.
The landlord has not provided it while renting it out.
The OPs employer has not provided it while buying the use of floor space.

scoobysnaxx · 25/07/2025 07:13

Technically what that young lad said is sexual harassment.

I would be writing a very exposing email to all the manager, CEOS etc saying are they saying they are happy for women to experience sexual harassment in the workplace? Just to be absolutely clear?

put them on it!

Radioundermypillow · 25/07/2025 07:12

I mean, if a bloke said he'd join me next time, I would say what, to watch me having a shit? Whats wrong with you? And leave it at that. But I am an old bird that doesn't suffer fools gladly.

JustMyView13 · 25/07/2025 07:11

Hodgemollar · 25/07/2025 07:10

Nothing to do with unisex cubicles and everything to do with the bizarre dated culture that’s allowed to exist in your workplace.
I’ve never worked anywhere where comments like this would be normalised or accepted.

Did you report it to HR?

It’s the business that shares the same floor, hence the challenge.
But agree, the 1950’s called & they want their sales bro’s back.

NextToNever · 25/07/2025 07:11

ThatLilacTiger · 25/07/2025 07:07

Working from home where you also have unisex toilets?

Get a grip.

Show quote history

You win the prize for most idiotic comment. 🥇 It’s a bit different sharing toilets with men in your family who you trust and live with, than random blokes. If you don’t understand that, you need help.

Hodgemollar · 25/07/2025 07:10

Nothing to do with unisex cubicles and everything to do with the bizarre dated culture that’s allowed to exist in your workplace.
I’ve never worked anywhere where comments like this would be normalised or accepted.

Did you report it to HR?

JustMyView13 · 25/07/2025 07:10

Well your employer has a duty of care towards you and is required to provide you with a safe working environment free from harassment. I would give ACAS a call, but suspect you’ll be asked to file a grievance against the company for not providing such. Then, depending on the outcome of that, you could look into constructive dismissal.
Regarding the grievance, you’ll likely be more successful if you & your colleagues all file. The company will then have to feed this back to the building management firm and find a solution.

jeaux90 · 25/07/2025 07:08

OP please read the link that @doodleZ1shared. Then talk with your manager/HR about that. If they can’t fix it then they need to allow remote working full time. The fact they have not considered this in their move to the new building is inconsiderate at best.

ThatLilacTiger · 25/07/2025 07:07

IlovePhilMitchell · 24/07/2025 20:37

That is absolutely unacceptable and I would be working from home until it was resolved!!!!

Can you?

Working from home where you also have unisex toilets?

Get a grip.

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