Work toilet situation - 1 toilet.

[Jellox]

I am dreading going back to work doing the day shift.

I love my job but the toilet situation gets me down.

We used to have 1 male toilet and 1 female toilet.
There are about 20 females and about 10 males.
(I know MN don’t like the terms male and female but it’s easier in this scenario).

For at least half of the staff, we can only typically go to the toilet in our breaks and this means long queues and sometimes not having enough time to go or usually using the male toilets.

But the female toilet is now broken and there is no plans on fixing it, meaning 30 staff trying to use 1 toilet - half of which can only use it at certain times.

My old workplace only had 1 shared toilet but that was for about 10 staff and so it wasn’t as bad but it’s obviously not uncommon.

Am I just bring a misery guts here or would this annoy you?

Completely unacceptable and surely against some kind of regulation. Why aren’t they fixing the female one?

Can you report them to the Health and Safety Executive or is your workplace not covered by them.

Report to environmental health

Have you discussed it with management? Surely staggered break times would solve the problem unless the nature of your work makes this impossible like a production line of some sort, I’d raise it with my line manger in the first instance and then if no resolution I’d contact my union rep or if not a member then HR/occ health.

They should get the other toilet fixed asap, as surely there is a longer wait for people, needing to use it.

Assuming you're in the UK that is against health and safety regulations. Even before the female toilet broke that was not sufficient for the number of employees.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/toilets.htm

Are you in a union?

The Health & Safety Executive provides a ratios For 26-50 people, it should be 3.

Completely unacceptable situation.
It’s inadequate provision, and lack of time/dignity for anyone with menstrual or bowel problems.

The management use the toilets too, do they’re in the same boat.

They have reported it higher.
There is a process where it is logged and someone comes and fixes it - it has been weeks and they keep saying they’re trying to get the parts for it.
It is a company that is always trying to save money and so we can’t see them ever fixing it as we are ‘coping’.

The nearest other toilet is a good 10min walk and in a different department with their own staff.

We have tried coming up with a plan where the staff who don’t need to wait until break times, avoid using it at break times - but that in itself has caused problems as some of them have been using it during break times saying they need it.

I am in a union but haven’t reported it to them or environmental health or anything as tbh no one else seems to be saying this and I almost feel like it’s not my responsibility/ don’t want to poke my head out of the sand too much type thing.

Unfortunately the staff that can only use it during break times, cannot have staggered breaks due to the nature of the work.

I echo the other posters
There should be 3 toilets and unless there is a big drain issue, a repair on the broken ladies toilet should not be a big job and should be done immediately.
Is there no way of asking management to stagger breaks to reduce the queues for the ladies? ( This is sometimes an issue in schools where break times are fixed, in which case, extra toilets are obviously needed)
Without knowing your workplace type it's difficult to know if it is a local authority or HSE issue. Can you give some clarification?

I don’t know if there are rules around opening with inadequate toilet provision? Surely an emergency fix is different from a long term failure to comply with H&S legislation? Can they be shut down for this?!

this is what you are paying union dues for... contact them and let them handle it.

Legally they need 3 toilets for 30 people according to the health and safety at work act.

I have ibs and that would be my worst nightmare. I woukd literally leave a job over something like this

They should legally have 3 toilets minimum so you need to report them to environmental health. You could also contact ACAS if you don’t have your own union.

I'd genuinely be getting a sick line for stress. I have major bowel issues and could not cope with this.

You really need to speak to your union. That's what they're there for.

Definitely report it, 1 isnt enough.
In this scenario though it sounds like it would make more sense for both toilets to be unisex, and then everyone can use either. But I guess that could be controversial.

I fortunately don’t have IBS but it’s a constant worry about what if I do have an upset stomach.

Even just peeing makes me feel anxious as I’m trying to rush.

Thank you for everyone’s advice.
I will definitely speak to my union.

We have a very strong team and we all pull together in times of need, which is great but at times I do feel like sometimes our department can be a bit too hard working and higher up take the piss sometimes.

We love our manager and I think we worry it reflects badly on him if we take things higher but actually hearing outsider perspectives has really made me realise that it’s not ok.

Those numbers quoted are a minimum. If restricted access e.g. during breaks so high demand in a short timeframe then more would be needed.

Those numbers quoted are a minimum. If restricted access e.g. during breaks so high demand in a short timeframe then more would be needed.

Get some baking trays and kitty litter...
And threaten to use them. In the manager's office. 😉

What a nightmare. Hope it's sorted asap