Unisex toilets in new office - dread going into work

[SocialMol]

The company I work for moved to a new office a few weeks ago. It is brand new and shared 50/50 with another company. We have our own side of the floor, key card protected so completely separate.

However, the toilets are in the middle of the block so are shared with the other company. These are unisex - several cubicles with shared area for sinks/dryers etc.

The other company is a sales one (they run a call centre there) and the demographic of their workforce is mainly young men in their 20’s.

There have been several instances of inappropriate comments made to staff in the toilets. Crass stuff like ‘give that cubicle 5 minutes’ to cruder comments directed at or about women - the men will often be talking about their own colleagues in a derogatory way in front of us.

The final straw for me was this afternoon when I walked out of a cubicle and a spotty young lad said he will ‘join me next time’ 😷

Our company are aware of our concerns but said there’s nothing they can do, as the toilets are designed to be ‘inclusive’ and similar to the other modern office blocks they viewed.

I don’t really know what I’m looking for by posting this to be honest, just wanted to know if anyone else finds this sort of set up completely ridiculous?

You have already spoken to your management who claim there’s nothing they can do………..time to step this up.
Whenever you go to the toilet have your phone with you on either voice record or video ( no need to point it at anyone ), have it in your pocket. You will then capture everything that is said to you which you can then transcribe into a journal with exact dates and times. Keep this going for a few weeks and then take it to your management and insist they speak to whoever is in charge of the other company……it is NOT acceptable under any circumstances.

Omg I didn’t even think about bugs. Up skirting is a problem so this wouldn’t surprise me!

What demographic of men are most responsible for violent and sexual crimes against women?

Men they know or are related to.

Try read the first post.

She doesn't work with them. She would not need to encounter them at all were it not for the illegal toilets her employer is forcing her to use.

You are absolutely insane. 😂 do some research.

I apologise. I mis-typed! I meant mixed sex, not single-sex. I can't go back and edit my comment as it would make any replies look wrong so I apologise again.

Bit of an extreme response tbf.

I'd report any comments to the company they work for, they are sexually harassing people in their work place.

I suggest you post on FWR, OP. This thread is full of people who (a) haven't read the OP properly and (b) don't know the law.

Yuk I hate unisex tickets. Would rather share the ladies with a trans any day. Knew this was going to happen 😖

It's a legal requirement to have single sex toilets. Are the cubicles floor to ceiling? If so, they comply. If not, complain

And report harassment to HR. Unacceptable. And don't be fobbed off that's its banter

Stupid comment, unless you have a sign on your front door saying your bathroom facilities are open to the general public.

This. But your org is also breaking the law. Your company must supply separate loos plus washing facilities, not mixed washing facilities.

Here you are - the law for your boss: https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/workplace-toilets-know-your-rights/

With your own family??? What an absolutely stupid thick comment!

I'd be using the disabled toilet

It is insane to me how any man or women can make sexual harassment a women’s problem.

Thats insanity.

That's the same? Well usually it is unisex?

Your company is heading for so much trouble. 1) not complying with workplace regulations on toilet provision; 2) not acting when female staff are sexually harassed.

Oddly enough the OP has the ability to control and limit the people men who have access to her toilet.

She can call the police if she encounters a random man hanging around outside her toilet.

And she could assault the "Mr Spot" with reasonable force to incapacitate him and the police would arrest him not her.

E for effort.

Read the first post again

And the men who do that go to work.

Please provide the statistics to back that up.

And report his sexual harrassment to your management.

I've worked in a building with unisex toilets for 18 years, but each cubicle opens onto a corridor and contains its own washbasin and sanpro bin. There's no shared area that's secluded, iyswim and I've never heard anyone griping about it.