'Disgustingly filthy': Women workers lack access to decent toilet facilities

‘Disgustingly filthy’: Women workers lack access to decent toilet facilities

Nov 27, 2023

Women workers are being forced to use “filthy” toilet facilities with some revealing there are none where they work, a survey has found.

Research conducted by Unite union showed out of a survey of more than 12,000 women, only 14% said they sometimes or occasionally had access to toilets in the workplace.

It said 1% of respondents said they never have access to a toilet in the workplace.

Nearly half of female bus workers reported only sometimes or occasionally have access to a toilet.

“I have had multiple urine infections since starting and have had to take sick days because of them,” one woman told Unite.

“I had the constant urge to go which is not good for driving buses four hours at a time. I believe these have been caused by not being able to go when you need to sometimes,” she added.

“Toilets have been left broken/unfixed for months and months leaving inadequate provision for the number of female workers,” another said.

One said: “I work in a male environment and out of office the toilets are disgusting. I have raised this several times to no avail.”

Others said sanitary bins in some facilities “have not been emptied for months or even a year” – and “very rarely do they have toilet paper and are disgustingly filthy”.

When asked about the cleanliness of facilities, including hot and cold running water, soap and toilet paper, 17% of respondents said the facilities occasionally or sometimes were up to standard, while 2% said they never have access to clean and hygienic facilities.

Another shared their experience of having to use mostly “closed” public facilities while out on the road that are “disgustingly filthy”.

“I struggle with this and try not to drink any fluids on certain duties,” she added.

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Alison Spenser-Scragg, Unite national equalities officer, said: “It is a legal requirement for employers to provide accessible and clean toilets, including sanitary bins, yet this survey shows that many are in contravention of the law.”

The lack of accessibility and “toilet dignity” at work is a “national disgrace”, she added.

Unite’s research also showed access to clean and properly stocked toilets was a serious issue for civil air transport workers with 27% saying they only sometimes or occasionally have access to them.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is shameful that so many female workers still do not have decent toilets within the workplace. This is a very serious industrial issue.”

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