To not want unisex toilets at work!

[namechangedbutneedadvice]

Just received an email to say that the toilets at work at now unisex with immediate effect. There are no urinals. I don't want to have to deal with the whole seat up/seat down palavah at work (it was bad enough when I lived with my exH). I also think I'll be more embarrassed in front of male colleagues when I e.g. need to do a number 2 and when a bad stomach occasionally accompanies my period! Not sure why but I will...

I get the feminist agenda on this and my concerns aren't really to do with a penis being in there. I will just feel frustrated and uncomfortable going to the toilet now. Any ideas how I could challenge this?

That's pretty grim, especially when they're stalls without solid walls.You wouldn't feel comfortable even unwrapping a tampon. Perhaps you should say you're concerned about being filmed, it's fairly common when leisure centres use mixed stall type changing. I would imagine your work place thinks it's moving with the times etc and haven't thought it out.

Why on earth would you not feel comfortable unwrapping a tampon?

Why on earth would you, Happyspud? Just because! Is it too much to ask to have some sodding privacy at work for 5 minutes or do we have to pretend to be cool with absolutely everything now?

How many staff to how many loos and is each toilet self contained?

Our toilets are unisex, but each one is self-contained, and has a basin and sanitary bin in it. I don't have a problem with it.

I do have a problem with the stinky fuckers who go for a shit and don't open the window though. One floor is mostly open plan, and everyone working there gets gassed out on a regular basis.

I don't like cubicles that don't have floor to ceiling walls. Ever. I have often found women's toilet seats splashed with wee and never used men's toilets to compare. Presumably people who have a religious belief which means they are unable to use a toilet which may have been used by the opposite sex are unable to use disabled toilet facilities?

YANBU. I have no objection to the idea of unisex toilets but my experience of the reality was really unpleasant.

In my last office we had unisex toilets and pretty much every time I went in I had to flip the toilet seat up with my foot to avoid the pee splashed all over the seat. In addition there were some horrific smells and sights on the poo front!

As usual, great upheaval and hassle for people - usually women - comes about because of a management concern to be seen to be woke for some minuscule percentage of the population

I just got back from Copenhagen at the weekend, and heaps of the looks there (at the aquarium for example) are unisex. Genuinely didn’t notice any issues. They were clean, serviceable and there was literally no queue! I’d like to see this in more public spaces, I hate having to send my 8yo into a completely different side of a restaurant to use the bathroom from me, so much more convenient this way!

Not direct reply to the OP but some posters...

Women's toilets can be absolutely rank. The ones in clubs and pubs, Jesus the state I've found some of those in with tampons thrown on the floor, pads stuck in walls and poo in places. Cleaners I've known have said women's are worst, men may get pee in places but women can be nasty when it comes to menstrual stuff and faeces.

prequelle totally agree!! I’ve walked into the ladies’ room at work before and there has been actual urine and blood on the floor. 🤢🤮

The cubicles aren't shut off floor to ceiling, just 5 normal stalls with sanitary bins.

Then they are breaching health and safety legislation and you have a strong case to complain:

The relevant legislation is the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Regulation 20, Sanitary conveniences, states:

1. Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences shall be provided at readily accessible places.

2. Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), sanitary conveniences shall not be suitable unless -

a) the rooms containing them are adequately ventilated and lit;
b) they and the rooms containing them are kept in a clean and orderly condition; and
c) separate rooms containing conveniences are provided for men and women except where and so far as each convenience is in a separate room the door of which is capable of being secured from inside.

Hate this stupid idiotic gender neutral crap. YANBU. My human rights matter to. I'd use the disabled loo!!!

Thanks for all the replies.

I think in this cae, the change was prompted by a lack of men's toilets where I sit. There are still single sex toilets on the ground floor but this means I have to go down two flights of stairs and two doors as opposed to a 30 second walk on the same floor. I'll spend more time dicking around going to the loo now than before (which is majorly annoying not to mention a waste of valuable time) especially if I need to pop back to my desk for unexpectedly-required sanitary protection (long story but this happens to me fairly regularly). Add to that the fact that I pee more often post kids!

Apparently there wasn't a consultation, just a chat with the CEO and decision taken. It's bloody annoying. I don't know that to do next... the CEO calls the shots in our smallish organisation and I have to work quite closely with her.

It might be that the level of cleanliness doesn't change as it's certainly not perfect. It's the seat up/down thing that's annoying me, the fact I won't feel comfortable and that I'll end up wasting time walking back and forth.

We have unisex toilets at work too
I also don't like them.

Some en either leave the seat up or p all over it. Or both come to think of it.

My human rights matter to. I'd use the disabled loo!

Don’t do that. It’s not fair to people that need access to them, sometimes urgently, due to their condition/disability.

I’m fucked of by the fact that the users are being given no choice. Much as you say you don’t want to take the feminist approach regarding trans (btw, it’s regarding women’s rights to safety and dignity), I guarantee that it was a ‘what about the poor trans?’ discussion, that caused the implementation of the mixed sex toilets. It’s a race to be the most ‘woke’.

I note the comment about Copenhagen- that’s because Denmark still retains standards, values and attitudes long lost in Britain

Can you ask to see the new risk assessment on this policy change.

Thanks Sackrifice, I'll see what they come back with and maybe then push for that.

Well I made an official complaint today and cited the HSE guidance thanks Pencilsinspace. All of the women I spoke to today (my first day back in the office) were uncomfortable about it. The remaining single sex loos downstairs were noticeably busier today. It is the CEO's idea so not convinced anything will change. Will report back tho!

i have a unisex toilet at work its disgusting

Denmark is different. Gender based violence occurs at a much lower frequency. Also men pee sitting down.