Uncomfortable about unisex toilets at work

[Onlyinanemergency]

My workplace is moving to new premises and all the toilets are to be unisex. Apparently the bathrooms consist of several floor-to-ceiling cubicals opening out onto shared sinks. There is then a large window onto a public corridor so that the sink area can be seen from outside the bathroom. There are 3 of these bathrooms, one on each floor of the building, as well as 3 single disabled toilets. The architects have obviously put a lot of thought into creating toilets which are unisex but also fairly safe and private, yet I still feel really uncomfortable about the idea. Particularly about not being given a choice. Am I wrong?

[AllyMcBeagle]

I do think there are updated regulations now on unisex loos (ie new buildings will have them) - what I don't know is what the regulations are or how they outline the implementation of them.

The 1992 Regs are still good law. Employers can sort of get around them by having toilets in individual rooms and shared sinks in a unisex room, but you definitely can't have mixed sex cubicles at work.

This guide from the Health and Safety Executive might be helpful to the OP as it sets things out clearly:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf

[DrSusan]

I've gone back to university recently and was unnerved to find that the toilets in the library are unisex. They have single enclosed cubicles and sinks in an area outside. They were clean enough and I think there were sanitary bins in all the cubicles, but it just wasn't comfortable. There was a young man washing his hands at the same time as me. He was an overseas student (which may or may not have been relevant) and clearly wasn't happy with the arrangements either. Very few people want this and it's being foisted upon us anyway.

[Onlyinanemergency]

Thanks Poula, good to hear it (mostly) works somewhere. Would still rather not have to share if it can be avoided!

[TroubledLichen]

We had unisex loos at a previous job. Sanitary bin and sink in each cubicle which was floor to ceiling so plenty of privacy. They were cleaned regularly and loo seat covers/sanitising spray were provided. Huge mirrors for doing make up. When it’s done properly it can work fine.

[DJLippy]

Has anyone else considered that weird toilet cubicle phenomena of the locks never working properly? Perching yourself awkwardly on end of the toiletseat with one arm akimbo is not a dignified look when Steve from accounts accidentally walks in on you mid stream. Nobody likes it when people walk in on you like that but if it was a guy

[spontaneousgiventime]

Oh blimey I wouldn't like this one bit. My late husband was quite good at keeping the loo clean but never did get the hang of putting the seat down. I'm not comfortable about loo's at the best of times, I would struggle to use these.

[WomaninGreen]

Terrible idea

Put the sinks in the cubicle would have been one thing

But at a busy time at work, you can be seen doing makeup, a man might shave etc and people are just walking by?

What a mess. How to screw up safety and privacy at the same time in one easy lesson.

There's still an answer - the glass could be covered, one set of loos made male, female, unisex. But seriously, amazed at the level of stupidity here.

[bunbunny]

Have they put in enough space to stand in front of the toilet in order to open or close the door?

Much as I don't like badly done unisex toilets, I also hate when they have a tiny cubicle where there is about an inch of clearance between the loo and the door, the sanitary bin jammed down the side of the loo so you have to do a strange body contortion trick - doubly so if holding any bags or other stuff, or if wearing a long coat or dress or skirt or jacket or cardigan or top that flaps more than a couple of mm from your body (because that's such a rare occurrence - oh wait...)

Then you end up with at least something touching the loo, or falling into it if you're having a really bad day. It's basic ergonomics and shouldn't be beyond the capability of even very junior architects to leave enough space for people to use their design without having to experience the misery and horror every time they go into a loo. And again, every time they leave.

[DuchyDuke]

We have unisex toilets too but with sinks inside the cubicle. Makes it a bit nicer when applying make up etc.

[PretABoire]

We have unisex toilets like this at work - never even gave it a second thought. Much more private than the flimsy cubicles you normally get in a ladies loo - this is the first job I've ever been able to poo at!! I would find it pretty rank to see someone washing out a moon cup even in the ladies - I thought you were supposed to wash it out with a bottle of water you take in the cubicle with you.

[Namesallgone18]

Does no one else have the occasional cry in the loos? If I were “caught” doing this I’d prefer it to be by another woman, as women generally cry more easily than men

[trixymalixy]

The unisex toilet we used earlier this year was disgusting. The seats were covered in urine and several men just didn't bother to close the door when they were having a piss.

[Ekphrasis]

There are a lot of user generated signs placed in our toilets - not specifically regarding toilet etiquette as it's a female dominated place but could be an idea to help remind the blokes to be a bit more careful with their pissing.

[RatRolyPoly]

as women generally cry more easily than men - do they? Or could the men's be equally as full of weepy office workers? I honestly don't know.

[ILikeMyChickenFried]

I'm fairly uncomfortable with the thought of other women rinsing out their mooncups in the sink I want to use for washing my hands to be honest. That's pretty vile.

[OnTheList]

I don't really want unisex loos, though if they were floor to ceiling totally contained little rooms I would be fine, by this I mean with the sink in too..kind of like how hospital loos are.

Having said this, I absolutely agree that other women may not even want them the way i suggest. And its their right to say no too.

I cannot see men being impressed with having to wait longer either, if this becomes more widespread. And yes, the mess. I used to work in public service and the mens loos were absolutely disgusting..some guy took a shit in the urinal at one point, someone else smeared it all over the walls. Sometimes the womens were pretty gross too mind, but nothing compared to the mens

[OnTheList]

whats absolutely not on at all, is just converting the loos we have now (ie, flimsy cubicles, often that you can see through!) into unisex, with no changes. Or, even worse, leaving the mens as it is and just saying the womens is gender neutral, as seems to have happened in a few places so far.

So at least a bit of thought has gone into this I guess.

I will never understand though, why womens loos are not built slightly to the side, so that your leg does not bang the sanitary bin Really annoys me that. I know architecture is/was a very male dominated job, but they know women need to use sanpo..

[BeyondThePage]

At work we have a toilet (singular), it has a sink and a bin (and a lock), and the mops and buckets in it. There are 5 of us in at any time, mainly women but sometimes a man or 2 - we all share it, we all stock and clean it.

3 unisex loos with shared sinks sounds nice and spacious (and "corporate" - like someone else gets to clean it and stock it and empty the minging bin...!)

[DJLippy]

I think it's one thing in an office toilet where the facilities would be cleaned regularly (or so you'd hope) but another if you have young children in unisex public spaces that are not being maintained properly. Most parents would ensure the toilet was clean before their child used it but they shouldn't have to do this. I feel like I've become outraged from Tunbridge Welles but seriously - won't somebody please think of the children!

Again, I know this is a digression from OP's original post but considering how toilets are often used for things like changing nappies or breast feeding shouldn't architects seriously consider how unisex facilities impacts mothers of young children? Can you think of anything more grim than breastfeeding an infant in a piss soaked cubicle? See Holly McNish...

[jellyfrizz]

I'm fairly uncomfortable with the thought of other women rinsing out their mooncups in the sink I want to use for washing my hands to be honest. That's pretty vile.

Would you feel the same about a nosebleed or is it because it’s menstrual blood?

[ILikeMyChickenFried]

If someone had a little pot of blood they'd gathered up from a nose bleeding and they were rinsing it out in a sink I'd be pretty grossed out by that too.

[RatRolyPoly]

I can imagine if it came up on AIBU you wouldn't be alone ILikeMyChicken. I'm picturing it now!

[BeyondThePage]

How about people hacking up phlegm and spitting it in the sink? People do all sorts in shared sinks, a lot of it gross.

[Bowlofbabelfish]

Any blood to be honest. That’s coming from a lab environment where any kind of body fluid needed serious PPE and SOPs to deal with.

And yes I’m one of those who elbows open doors and taps ;)