Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Health and safetySickness absenceOccupational Health

One in 10 staff avoid workplace toilets due to cleanliness concerns

by Ashleigh Webber 22 Feb 2018
by Ashleigh Webber 22 Feb 2018 Queues for the sink and a lack of soap were among the reasons why staff did not wash their hands
Queues for the sink and a lack of soap were among the reasons why staff did not wash their hands

One in 10 employees would avoid using the toilet in their workplace because of concerns about hygiene, according to the survey of more than 1,400 workers.

More than half (51%) of employees claimed that they had been “appalled” by the condition of their workplace bathroom facilities on at least one occasion over a six-month period.

Despite sickness often being linked to unclean office environments and poor hygiene, three quarters of people said they were more likely to wash their hands only when they were in the presence of another colleague, either for a longer amount of time or when they normally wouldn’t at all.

Workplace hygiene

Is there any duty on employers to close their workplace during a flu pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus?

Among the reasons why workers did not wash their hands after using the bathroom were a queue at the sink or hand dryer (28%), a dirty sink (24%), a bad smell (17%) or a lack of soap (10%).

The survey, which was conducted by bathroom fixtures provider Showers To You, also found that the workplace bathroom usually had several other uses beyond its traditional purpose, which it said perhaps contributed to the level of cleanliness.

Almost a third (29%) of workers said they took their phone into a toilet cubicle, while others admitted putting on make-up or using the bathroom to chat with colleagues.

More than a third (34%) of people polled said they would consider confronting a colleague over poor hygiene and cleanliness in the workplace bathroom.

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, an employer must provide suitable and sanitary conveniences in readily accessible places. They must be kept in a clean and orderly condition, must be well ventilated and lit, and be separated for men and women.

Employees lost an average of 30.4 working days due to feeling unwell last year, according to insurer VitalityHealth. This was made up of 2.7 days of sickness absence and 27.7 days where employees continued to work despite feeling unwell.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Business must look to the future of health and wellbeing
next post
Can we change workplace behaviour in just 21 days?

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Insight into severity of menopause symptoms

27 May 2022

Occupational health reforms ‘need momentum’, urges SOM

27 May 2022

CPD: Understanding occupational health career pathways (on-demand webinar)

26 May 2022

Record prostate cancer screenings post-pandemic

24 May 2022

Signs of severe eating disorders often missed, warns...

23 May 2022

GPs call for new OH service to relieve...

23 May 2022

Occupational health key to helping employers manage long...

23 May 2022

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

Obesity prevalence projections show 36% will be obese...

20 May 2022

NHS pressures leaving thousands waiting for cancer diagnosis

17 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today