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Original poster

My employer has just removed single sexed toilets to be more inclusive!

218 replies

Dhama · 27/05/2025 14:32

In light of the SC ruling. Wtaf

Previously we had men, women and a unisex accessible toilet. They have now, in the guise of being inclusive, removed all signage and all are mixed sex.

The toilets are all individual, lockable with washing facilities included but that’s not the point. I hate using a toilet after men have been in there fgs.

We are a LA so unsure what the provisions are in other offices across the county.

I have emailed the head of facilities but not sure if I can do anything else.

am so cross

OP posts:
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5
TaraRhu · 27/05/2025 23:03

I'm not a massive defender or men, but plenty of women pee on toilet seats too! I've been in some really disgusting female toilets. Not alll men are barabrians!

Personally, I don't see the problem. if you have three identical locking toilets why bother allocating them sexes? If anything it is better for us to have more toilets as we take longer (generally).

Inawhyl · 27/05/2025 22:46

Tiredofwhataboutery · 27/05/2025 18:18

Its called a dirty protest and you would be shocked at how prevalent it is. I used to clean loos and honestly hated the dirty fuckers that would chat to me knowing they’d smeared shit on the cubicle wall. Cleaning employees spaces is often much worse than cleaning public spaces.

It’s not vast amounts. It’s wiping loo roll on the wall after you’ve wiped your bum.

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Well you learn a new thing every day. That is
Truly horrible

LostMySocks · 27/05/2025 22:41

BunfightBetty · 27/05/2025 16:23

Perhaps, but I see all manner of posters offering fully enclosed toilets as a solution to the issue of men who think they’re women wanting in on the women’s single sex facilities, and it’s very important that people realise that enclosed loos are not the dream ticket solution to this problem.

Fully enclosed lockable toilets massively increase risk for people who are seriously ill because of eg a diabetic hypo, a heart attack, stroke or seizure being in trouble where nobody can see there is an issue and so they are left for a long time with nobody getting help because nobody knows they are ill. They also raise the risk of sexual assault of women and girls, as they can be pushed into a cubicle with an attacker, that is then locked and nobody can see or hear what is going on.

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While I agree with this for public toilets I really hope that this would not be an issue in a workplace.
Our company have unisex loos (all fully enclosed with sanitary bins and a basin). We used to have male, female and unisex on each floor. Now all unisex. Benefits us as we have more female employees but I did once sit on a soggy seat.

Roystonv · 27/05/2025 22:31

Clutching? Why create something for no reason that could cause harm. We should be proactive so that bad things can't happen as easily. Plan for the worst; surely that is common sense and good practice? Unfortunately, wilful naivety does not help make the world a better place and others will take advantage.

BunfightBetty · 27/05/2025 22:13

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 22:07

This is clutching....

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It really isn't.

Come on, which would you rather be in?

You just don't want to answer truthfully because it will create cognitive dissonance with your pre-existing bias. You'd rather stick your fingers in your ears and dismiss any inconvenient evidence, rather than change your views.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 27/05/2025 22:12

sprigatito · 27/05/2025 16:32

I think women are just going to have to kick up a fuss every time they have to use a toilet that has been made disgusting by men. It may be legal to force women into enclosed unisex toilets, but it’s not acceptable to put up with piss all over the floor, shit on toilet seats etc, so the only thing we can do is complain, all of us, every single time. With photographic evidence of the filthy conditions we are being expected to endure.

This. Make it more hassle for them not to change the toilets back.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 27/05/2025 22:10

Dhama · 27/05/2025 14:50

Yes they are in our office.

I’ve looked at the guidance etc, and Document T states that single sexed toilets should be the default unless space constraints prevent it. In our case we already had 3 toilets, 1 of which was mixed sex.

Surely 1 of those should remain single sex?

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Surely if there were three and one was already mixed sex there was absolutely no need to change anything.

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 22:07

BunfightBetty · 27/05/2025 18:29

Not paranoid, it has happened lots of times. I’m gobsmacked you are ignorant of this.

In any case, what about the safety aspect? if you were to suffer a cardiac arrest in a public toilet (not so far fetched, as this happens also. People have an urge to use the loo when they’re suffering a cardiac event), would you rather:

a) be in a women’s toilet, where there are gaps around the doors, and people could see you slumped on the floor, hear any sounds you make and get help quickly; or

b) be in a unisex fully enclosed loo with a locked door, where nobody can hear or see you are in need of urgent medical help. As a consequence it is several hours until you are found.

Which would you choose?

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This is clutching....

Leafstamp · 27/05/2025 21:12

@Dhama are you in touch with these people - they may be able to help?

localauthorityseen.uk

Boudiccaofsteel · 27/05/2025 18:43

Also ask about if they have notified their liability insurer given the added risk to women or disabled people/ cardiac arrest point raised above

and ask if they have carried out an equality act impact
ask if the cleaning will be increased as well as women do not want their dresses and trouser hems soaked in piss

BunfightBetty · 27/05/2025 18:29

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 18:09

There is always urine on the seat from women hoverers. I admit to being one of them as I don't think I have ever say on a public toilet seat. Why do you think there would be hidden cameras? Utterly paranoid.

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Not paranoid, it has happened lots of times. I’m gobsmacked you are ignorant of this.

In any case, what about the safety aspect? if you were to suffer a cardiac arrest in a public toilet (not so far fetched, as this happens also. People have an urge to use the loo when they’re suffering a cardiac event), would you rather:

a) be in a women’s toilet, where there are gaps around the doors, and people could see you slumped on the floor, hear any sounds you make and get help quickly; or

b) be in a unisex fully enclosed loo with a locked door, where nobody can hear or see you are in need of urgent medical help. As a consequence it is several hours until you are found.

Which would you choose?

Chersfrozenface · 27/05/2025 18:22

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 18:09

There is always urine on the seat from women hoverers. I admit to being one of them as I don't think I have ever say on a public toilet seat. Why do you think there would be hidden cameras? Utterly paranoid.

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Why do you think there would be hidden cameras? Utterly paranoid.

Oh really? The Guardian published this today (Tuesday, 27th May).

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/27/secret-spy-cameras-voyeurism-uk

‘Every time I took a shower I thought: is he watching me?’ – the terrifying rise of secret cameras

Anyone can buy a tiny spy camera and hide it in a mirror, fake smoke alarm or public toilet. But why would they? As cases of voyeurism against women soar in the UK, victims say it’s too easy for men to get away with it

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/27/secret-spy-cameras-voyeurism-uk

Tiredofwhataboutery · 27/05/2025 18:18

Inawhyl · 27/05/2025 15:05

What kind of place do you work in?! Smearing faeces on the walls?

I’ve worked in offices where we had to share it with children and teen service users and not even experienced that!

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Its called a dirty protest and you would be shocked at how prevalent it is. I used to clean loos and honestly hated the dirty fuckers that would chat to me knowing they’d smeared shit on the cubicle wall. Cleaning employees spaces is often much worse than cleaning public spaces.

It’s not vast amounts. It’s wiping loo roll on the wall after you’ve wiped your bum.

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 18:09

maltravers · 27/05/2025 16:55

Blokes’ urine on the seat, risk of hidden cameras, additional safety risk, you know, the usual Maddy.

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There is always urine on the seat from women hoverers. I admit to being one of them as I don't think I have ever say on a public toilet seat. Why do you think there would be hidden cameras? Utterly paranoid.

ArabellaScott · 27/05/2025 17:36

Chersfrozenface · 27/05/2025 14:59

If you do have to use, or avoid using, a toilet that is dirty, OP, complain loudly to your manager Also, email HR with your complaint and asking how the toilets will be kept clean during working hours. No-one can accuse you of being anything -phobic, you're complaining about hygiene and an acceptable working environment, or lack thereof.

Also, I do hope there are sanitary waste bins in all the toilets.

This.

They are risking discrimination if they don't provide suitable facilities for staff.

Inawhyl · 27/05/2025 17:31

Coffeesnob11 · 27/05/2025 15:22

Finance in London believe it or not and it's impossible to catch anyone as you can't have CCTV in the toilet. It's only happened twice but any is too much.

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That’s utterly bizarre and disgusting 🤮

Keeptoiletssafe · 27/05/2025 17:28

It’s worth noting that under current building regs they wouldn’t be allowed. You have to provide single sex facilities first then unisex if there is enough space. Only if there’s not enough space can you only offer a unisex toilet (like a small cafe).
Look up Document T. It is clear on this.

Bagelmonster20 · 27/05/2025 17:13

It's horrible OP, we have them in my office too.

I try not too drink much at work and I drive home for lunch specifically so I can use my own bathroom. Occasionally I walk to the big Waitrose around the corner as they have single sex loos. It's a bloody pain.

Muffinmam · 27/05/2025 17:12

This would really bother me…. To the point where I would put blood tablets in the toilet until the men complained and it was rectified.

TheOtherRaven · 27/05/2025 17:02

Dhama · 27/05/2025 15:04

I will check out the sanitary bins too.

It’s all incredibly frustrating, no one is happy about it either, men or women, but for different reasons 😕

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And isn't that always the way. For this particular 0.02% of the population everybody has to be made uncomfortable, unhappy and inconvenienced.

I would contact Sex Matters for advice OP, they will probably have all the information to hand.

ASweetSummerChild · 27/05/2025 16:58

We have a block of offices shared with different businesses. There are male and female toilets, but also one mixed sex block.

The mixed sex block has four toilet cubicles, with the handwashing faciliies on a wall opposite the cubicles. I hate using them, but they are the only one on our floor and sometimes I have urgent need to go.

I am confused if these are still allowed, as there are separate facilities (but quite a walk away and up or down flights of stairs. My understanding is they are not because the handwashing facilities are not withing the cubicle?

maltravers · 27/05/2025 16:55

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 16:26

If they are individual and lockable what is the problem ?

Blokes’ urine on the seat, risk of hidden cameras, additional safety risk, you know, the usual Maddy.

OchAyeTheNo0 · 27/05/2025 16:53

Ew.

I hate using toilets after men too OP. You just know the lazy fuckers will have left the seat up, piss everywhere and not wash their hands.

if enough women complain, surely they can reintroduce women only toilets?

Chariothorses · 27/05/2025 16:34

There is a sudden flurry of toilet related threads on here today, so @Dhama it's worth reading them as there are useful links on them!
if they don't change them back, it's worth reminding them of why women need SS toilets at work,
https://sex-matters.org/toilets-matter/
the fact the workplace regulations require them, and that employment tribunals have found only having gender neutral loos discriminates against women- here's just one example.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64559184

and now thankfully if your employer won't change back JK Rowling has set up funding to help ordinary women fund cases to resolve issues like this.

Toilets matter - Sex Matters

Our advice is based on the law, and on good practice. In this short guide, we left out some of the technical details. To read the full documents, see: Our document also draws on research that Sex Matters did in 2022, when more than 6,000 people told us...

https://sex-matters.org/toilets-matter/