Non binary changing rooms???

[Gcn]

Name changed as outing. Yesterday a member of staff told me that "they" are unhappy using either the male or female changing rooms in work, because as non binary they don't feel safe in either. They've been using the (ladies) loo to get changed in but aren't happy and think we should provide non binary changing rooms.

I think that's madness. So they aren't happy getting changed with just men or just women, but would be happy to share a changing room with both???

Work is all about the kindness, and supporting staff - so I've been told by manager to find a solution.. Great

What would you do?

Two changing rooms, one designated as being for men and male non-binary, the other for women and female non-binary. I think it would work well.

Places like Primark have “female” and “any gender”. Would that work?

I’d throw these at your manager and engage your health and safety team/ facilities management team. https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/toilets.htm

Actually this is better - two laminated signs!

Are "they" a biological male or female?

How do they present their non-binary-ness? Is it obvious by looking at them?

I'm asking as I really struggle to get my head around NB!

'I'm being very considerate of this person's feelings, which is why I'm telling you about this and not ignoring the issue.' Throw it back to the manager as it's way out of your remit. Encourage it to be pushed all the way around relevant departments, up chains of command, all in the name of being 'considerate'. Cause a headache for many, many people.

Out of interest, are they the only non binary member of staff? Are they basically saying they want a changing room all to themselves?

What are the odds they'll find a storage cupboard somewhere and call that the non binary changing room. Tempting.

The law says changing rooms are provided on the basis of sex, because you'll be undressed and its reasonable to not expect a member of the opposite sex to be in there.

''The Equality Act 2010 allows service providers to operate single-sex and separate-sex services – such as toilets, domestic abuse refuges, changing rooms – when they have a good reason to do so (for example, only one sex needs to use the service or space) and the limited provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.''

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/call-for-input-incorrect-guidance-on-single-sex-spaces-and-gender-self-identification

These could include but are not limited to:

• separate or single-sex toilets
• domestic violence refuges
• separate or single-sex changing rooms
• hospital wards

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/separate-and-single-sex-service-providers-guide-equality-act-sex-and

But it would result in that as trans women would still use the female room

Non binary is clearly ridiculous made up attention seeking nonsense anyway. If you are a non girly girl or a non lad type bloke you are still who you are.
Bloody drag race has a lot to answer for in so many ways.

I'd also ask them what has made them feel 'unsafe'. Has there been an incident? Were they in the wrong sex changing room and someone didn't want them there? Does it need flagging up to the H&S committee?

So many great (and exasperated) comments about this stupidity. As part of your solution, don't forget to provide your manager with a list of all the other genders and remind them that they will all require special changing facilities if you start deviating from sex based facilities.

Penis's and no penis's?

I’d be asking what their safety concerns are. If they are implying that the women they work with are not safe to be around in the changing rooms this is a serious accusation to make and it should be investigated.

And remind him that he needs to put in a requisition for dog and cat bowls in case any staff members identify as cats or dogs in the future and aren’t able to use cups or mugs.

Another vote for bio males (all genders) and bio females (all genders)

Tell the NB to identify a space which they'd like transformed into a NB changing room (while keeping the M & F loos & changing rooms as they are). Give them free range - if they want the CEO's office, so be it.

Is there a disabled toilet? They are usually single space rooms and plenty of room to change in .

It's hard enough being disabled as it is, don't take resources away from us

@crockofshite sorting this out should not negatively impact any disabled people who may only be able use the disabled facilities.

Nobody is suggesting taking anything away from disabled staff.

How about 'sharing'?

You're quite right. They could share though?

What if they identify as a disabled person tho, for the time being?

Some disabilities mean that the toilet may be needed urgently.
Having to wait for someone to change could have a huge impact on this.

Haven't RTFT but I would approach it like any other accommodation of someone's belief:
Listen to their concerns and put forward some options to address them along with pros and cons.

Step 1. Put forward high level options to your manager to get their feedback on which is the preferred option for the management team. Options could be:

1. Make the male changing room mixed-sex
   Pros: directly addresses the concerns (assuming it does, once you've listened to them)
   Cons: not all men may want this

2. Make the female changing room mixed-sex
   Pros: as above
   Cons: not all women may want this

3a) build a new space or 3b) designate an existing space as a single occupancy mixed-sex changing facility
Pros: as above
Cons: cost if building a new space, loss of an existing facility if repurposing an existing space

Step 2:
Ask your manager how much time and effort you should spend creating the business case for each option.
For 1 and 2, a survey of all male and all female staff would be appropriate, in line with this guidance from the EHRC about single-sex spaces. If you don't consult all staff, this might put the organisation at risk of an indirect discrimination claim based on the PC of sex. For 3a and 3b a cost and impact analysis would be needed.

In other words, keep throwing it back at them.
Meanwhile, you could also suggest that they contact the local MP (or Kemi Badenoch in her capacity as Women and Equalities Minister if the is useless on this) to validate if this exploration that they are asking you to do is a good use of public funds.

And if you do get pushed in to doing 1 or 2 on the quiet, you can report it here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kemi-badenoch-asks-for-examples-of-bad-guidance-on-single-sex-spaces

In other words, push as much back on them to make a decision as you can.
A well-worded, fair and factual survey for options 1 and 2 could peak quite a few people, so wouldn't be a bad thing 😁