Nearly one in five workers refuse to use toilets at work, due to poor hygiene, study finds | City & Business | Finance

Nearly one in five employees refuses to use the toilet at work because of poor hygiene, a study has revealed. A lack of cleanliness, sanitary supplies, and toilet paper or hand towels, means many workers go elsewhere, or hang on until they get home.

Meanwhile, 22 percent avoid the kitchen because of splattered food and mountains of dirty dishes, with 37 percent even taking their own crockery to use.

The poll of 2,000 workers, commissioned by global hygiene and health company Essity, found 45 percent believe their workplace is a “breeding ground for bacteria”.

Microwaves are the top office hygiene gripe, followed by filthy fridges, overflowing bins, dirty sinks, and mouldy food in the chiller. In fact, just under six in 10 (57 percent) said they are generally irritated by the state of their surroundings at work.

Gareth Lucy from Essity, which provides a Tork Office Hygiene package, said: “During the Covid era it felt as though everyone took their personal hygiene, and the safety of others, far more seriously.

“At one point, every desk and meeting room in the office had hand sanitisers for staff to use, as well as frequent reminders to wash hands.

“But oh, how quickly things change. This survey demonstrates a serious drop in office cleanliness, at a time when this should still be a number one priority – and workers are understandably frustrated at the conditions in which they are expected to function well in.”

Kitchens were voted the worst areas for hygiene (34 percent), followed by toilets (30 percent), and communal areas (24 percent).

Respondents were also concerned about a number of “touch points” within the office – with door handles, toilet flushes, and keyboards considered to harbour the most germs. Toilet door locks and lids, telephones, computer mouses, and light switches, are also likely to pick up dirt.

And six in 10 of those polled feel more productive in a workspace which is spick-and-span – yet 39 percent regularly have to clean it themselves.

As a consequence, 22 percent have complained to either management or HR about the state of their surroundings – although 70 percent believe it is the responsibility of the hired cleaners to make sure things are up to scratch.

Other common complaints about the workspace environment include the temperature (27 percent), switching lights off (14 percent), and making sure the appropriate recycling bins are available (13 percent).

Workers also raise concerns about single-use items like plastic cups (10 percent), and wanting more recyclable products such as paper towels or sanitary products (nine percent).

However, the study found that some good habits gained during Covid still persist, as 36 percent still sanitise their hands regularly, while 35 percent will make solo drinks instead of communal rounds.

The research also delved into how office conditions change across different professions – and found those working in business consulting and I.T. were most satisfied with the cleanliness of their workspace, rating it an eight out of 10.

On the other hand, employees in public services and administration were left dismayed at the lack of hygiene in their offices, scoring them less than seven.

Those in I.T. are also most likely to enjoy “green” workspaces – while transport and logistics staff claim theirs are below average in this regard.

Gareth Lucy, for Essity, added: “It is the responsibility of all to ensure a workplace is a hygienic, welcoming, and clean place for everyone to be. But workplaces need to provide the right facilities that enable high standards of hygiene throughout all areas of the office.”