To not want to have to use the mens toilet

[capabilityfrowns]

I'm being investigated for multiple sclerosis and have been off work for some months .

My medical investigations are ongoing and I'm have mobility problems, however I e had to go back to work . The OHU suggested working from home but my supervisor says she wants me in the office at least 2 days a week . My dept recently moved to a new building

She told me the kitchen and toilet were on the ground floor where I will be working.
I went in for first time and discovered the "disabled accessible toilet " is actually the mens toilet on the ground floor - I have to walk through a urinal to get to the loo- this is making me uncomfortable because some bloke could be stood at the urinal as I exit the loo. ! The women's toilet is upstairs and there is no lift .

Ive tried to explain that I'm more productive from home and I can do my job from anywhere but she is holding firm on wanting me in the office 2 days a week which I'm already struggling with.

The toilet is the mens with an "accessible " sticker on the door but I still have to walk through the urinal space either way .
Aibu to say I'm not comfortable using the only toilet I can access ? It's ridiculous. I have to knock before I walk in and shout before I exit the cubicle in case I'm met with a penis !

@capabilityfrowns not much legal support but I found this.

https://accessible-toilets.co.uk/2015/11/03/equality-of-toilet-provision-the-equality-act-2010/

what happens if you need medical attention whilst in there. Is there an emergency cord?

Is there room for folks to manoeuvre should you need physical attention or first aid in there?

Sanitary bin is something I’d be pushing for as well as grab aids to get on and off the toilet.

I think we all know this isn’t an accessible toilet - it’s a blokes loo with a sticker on the door…

If they want you to use that loo then they're going to have to convert it into the female loo and make the upstairs one the men's. You should not have to use a men's toilet, it's unacceptable.

I think you are being unreasonable. This is very common and normal in Europe.

Well in the UK it is illegal. Both sexes are entitled to a single sex toilet

"Boss, I don't want to cause trouble because I know you have tried to be accommodating, but the toilet situation in this building isn't actually legal. It is neither accessible nor suitable for a woman to use, as there are no sanitary bins and I am required to walk past men urinating to access the cubicle. Telling me to use a regular, non accessible men's toilet that happens to be on the ground floor is not respecting your legal obligations towards me as a newly disabled female employee and it needs sorting. I realise that it can't be sorted overnight which is why I am proposing to work from home until you have had time to put in place a proper solution."

No it isn't.

Workplaces in "Europe" are also required to have adequate (including accessible) toilet facilities.

Margot thank you - I've been tying myself in knots wondering how to broach it without causing trouble

Yes, this is perfect!

My son assured me that men’s toilets are generally stinky and disgusting. Urinals have a whole stench of their own. There is no way I would be using that toilet.

You could also point out that depending on how your condition progresses it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that you might at some point need to use a wheelchair, which means you would need a fully wheelchair accessible toilet. Since they are required by law to have one anyway, and someone who already uses a wheelchair might apply for a job or be transferred to that office at any time, they may as well just put one in now and be done with it.

If they are recruiting for a new member of staff next month and the best candidate uses a wheelchair, they can't decide not to hire that person on the grounds that they don't have an accessible toilet. This is particularly shocking for a public sector employer.

So is having dinner at 10pm but neither of those things are gonna fly in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-and-use-of-buildings-approved-document-m

Volume 2, section 5 (starts on p47) sets out the standards for an accessible toilet. What you describe comes nowhere near meeting them.

I think Europe is unreasonable then.

That's not an accessible toilet just a ground floor one they've stuck a sticker on!

How are you getting to work?

Even if there is a lock on the outer door you don't know if there is a man peeing when you open the door to go in. This still doesn't seem acceptable, even if it's an improvement.

I'm a man and if a woman walked into the toilets at work I would not be happy. It's embarrassing for both parties. Do speak to the supervisor, by law the company has to make "reasonable adjustment" to help you work. Clearly it's reasonable to allow you to work from home if you do it the majority of the time.
You may not want to rock the boat because she's being nice. She has to be nice by law. I would not accept having to share a loo with a female colleague

You've had a lot of good advice, I just want to add that The MS Society can offer legal support.

''you want to use our MS Legal Advice Service
If you have concerns about your rights, we can help.
We work with the Disability Law Service (DLS) to fund an MS legal service to help people with MS in England and Wales and The Legal Services Agency (LSA) for those in Scotland.
These services are free of charge to everyone affected by MS in England and Wales by the DLS and Scotland by the LSA.
Just call our usual MS Helpline number 0808 800 8000 to find out more.''
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/financial-help/legal-advice

Have you requested an Access to work assessment given your many complex health needs?

Don't worry, this is fake news.

I keep looking at the 20 page form and closing it again 🙈

Maybe call the helpline
they can provide help
with actual form
completion. You don't have to fill the form out yourself

What - across Europe all they do is whack a sticker on a toilet door and it's magically become wheelchair accessible? Who knew.

Bloody hell that's awful, Op.

Hopefully the advice on this thread will help you.

Op, this goes beyond having to walk past urinals (which is gross). It's not an accessible toilet.

I'd write a polite but firm email, expressing your willingness to be in the office for two days a week but that it is impossible for you to do so with the current set up.

I'd list all the things ie lack of room, grab rails, cord, sanitary bin, walking past urinals etc etc. I'd then quote from the equalities act and the building regulations as people have quoted in the thread.

I'd copy that to HR and occupational health. I'd also be setting a deadline for a response/request a meeting.