Marvin OnumonuMost UK workers are uncomfortable using the toilet at work, with 57% of Brits saying they did not feel at ease using workplace toilets, a study from Victorian Plumbing found.
Two in five said they only use the work bathroom when absolutely desperate, and 13% admitted they avoid it altogether.
Nearly 60% said they hold it in at work rather than use the toilet.
41% experienced physical discomfort or pain from holding it in, 39% said it caused stress or anxiety, and 30% reported it affected their focus and productivity.
Women were more likely to be uncomfortable using the work toilet, with 26% saying they never use it for bowel movements, compared to 9% of men.
Many women feared being judged (57%), running into colleagues (55%) or being overheard (54%).
While 44% of women were more likely to use the toilet at work during their period, 18% said they used it if they had a medical condition such as endometriosis.
Victorian Plumbing has now introduced a ‘superior stalls policy’ based on the feedback.
The policy is aimed at making workplace bathrooms more comfortable, tackling issues like being overheard, poor cleanliness and time limits.
Alex Woods, bathroom expert at Victorian Plumbing, said: “Brits feel far less comfortable using workplace toilets than their own at home; this doesn’t sit right with us.
“Thanks to our new policy, employers can take action on the key issues making too many workers feel uneasy, and even unwell.
“Yes, there’s no place like your own toilet, but with the average Brit spending over 36 hours a week at work, everyone deserves to feel at ease — even in the loo.”
