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 !

I. So loathe to create a huge fuss because they could just say fine ~ work from xxxxx location miles away that has an accessible loo. I couldn't do that either .
I can't drive at min due to myoclonus at night , so this location is the best of a bad lot if I can't work from home

Honestly I don't think it has to be either or. They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. Putting in an accessible loo to bring their building into compliance with the regs they are supposed to comply with anyway and letting you wfh until that is done are reasonable adjustments.

Honestly- I can't see them spending money on this crumbling mess of a building. It's been derelict for years . The only reason it was reopened was due to the concrete issue affecting many public buildings in my last office so we were moved , it's been unused for years .

It sounds awful, could you take early retirement or be pensioned off due to ill health.

Wouldn't actually be financially viable- if I can continue to work and contribute I'd like to do so - I'm still a functional employee who does a lot of work , it's just not frontline.

It might be an idea to get on with it. As @Hobnobswantshernameback says, you can get support filling it in.

Their legal obligations towards their employees aren't optional, whether they think the building is worth investing in or not. It doesn't actually sound fit for human occupation.

I work for a government agency, the recognised union at my workplace in Prospect, but PCS are represented at other public bodies. Might be worth joining one of them?

Further to @MargotBamborough ’s draft, perhaps a line about being able to transfer from wheelchair to toilet and back again. Can that be done? Particularly as you say that a wheelchair sign is being used.

That might make the whole thing more inclusive, or something.

I'm a police officer. We have no union . We have the police federation. A toothless tiger . Useless. If I complain I'll just get moved to a
More inconvenient location.

This is policing in 2024 . When I joined in 2007 I used a plastic log book to scrape the ice of the response car windscreen in winter . Nothing has changed .

I live alone
I pay extortionate rent
I can't afford to be sacked
I can't be the one to be a total
Pain in the arse .

I can’t add anything to the thread but I’ve found it infuriating. It’s disgraceful how you’re being treated.

A bit of knocking and shouting doesn’t sound too bad to me.

They would be very stupid to sack you. It'd be a slam dunk at the employment tribunal.

It's not just a bit though, it's bits every time OP needs to go to the toilet and solely because they are not accommodating her disability

OP good luck getting it sorted

My friend just said I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. I should keep quiet for the sake of an easy commute.
She might be right .

Because I've taken time off they could start unsatisfactory performance procedures against me , so I'm loathe to kick up too much of a fuss .

Did the occ health report state you have a disability?
If so they need to consider 'reasonable' adjustments.
Moving your location when you cannot drive due to your disability is not a reasonable adjustment nor is the men's toilet an accessible toilet.
Rather than a Mumsnet thread I think you need to quote the Equality Act.
The charity Scope give a good explanation of your rights https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/asking-for-reasonable-adjustments/?gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAnntmxdxTIkklJB67LAvIjhWJaWgOvGdGcslvgjM2OsZqV4ceZjqTaHtV7BoC56cQAvDBwE#What-are-reasonable-adjustments-click

You have a stack of legal protections here. As @MargotBamborough said, it would be an absolute no-brainer at an employment tribunal because they're in breech of multiple pieces of legislation. Call the MS society tomorrow and get their help with some arse kicking.

Thank you. I'm just so not wanting to make waves . I've compiled a jokey text to my sgt about the possibility of running into men with their willys out .

Yes occy health have said I'm disabled.

Really OP, you don't need to joke.
They need to meet their legal obligations.
Please get some proper advice and guidance either from a charity like Scope, MS Society or Citizens Advice.
You deserve better and the Equality Act is your friend.

It is common in Europe but that doesn't make it ok. Saw it for myself many times in France.

Would you feel ok about your 12 year old daughter walking through a sea of men standing at urinals? I didn't.

I'm used to men as it's a very male dominated job , but I can't see how anyone is happy with this arrangement tbh.

I might just walk in swinging a tape measure and see where that gets me 😂

I think it's really reasonable to say that you don't want to see your colleagues penis' and that you think that putting you and them in the position where you will be accidentally flashed or they will be accidentally exposed is unfair to all involved.

I can't think of any reasonable or legal response they could give to that other than that the current situation is not right and a better solution needs to be found.

Travelling further to a different office would be counter productive to your disability/occ health advice, so the alternative would be to make the toilet appropriate by putting in locks and accessibility aids, extended breaks to enable you to travel home (somewhat ridiculous but hey ho) or WFH.