Flushed with success: Enhancing workplace bathrooms

We’ve already welcomed you to receptions and dined in style, but this month, we’re diving into the realm of workplace hygiene: the office bathroom. Here’s why you should be encouraging customers to flush out bad hygiene and offer washroom facilities that shine

Over the last few months, you may have noticed our digital content taking a journey through the familiar spaces of office buildings. So far, we’ve looked at receptions and dining spaces. This month, we’re looking at bathrooms. From innovative water-saving solutions to thoughtful additions that elevate employee satisfaction, it’s essential for dealers to advocate for the creation of exemplary washrooms.

Accessibility and inclusivity

Dealers play a pivotal role in assisting customers in crafting accessible and inclusive bathrooms. It’s essential to keep in mind that regulations governing bathroom spaces vary depending on the size of the workforce. Moreover, it’s vital to consider the diverse array of individuals in the work environment, allowing businesses to acknowledge the social, cultural, and personal diversity among their employees.

For example, dealers can assist customers to improve bathroom accessibility for employees with various physical needs, including those with limited mobility, visual impairments or those who are neurodiverse. This can entail incorporating products like braille signage, adapted sanitaryware, and pull cord or push-button alarms. While having an accessible disabled bathroom is a legal mandate for all business premises, dealers should emphasise the significance of ensuring these spaces surpass mere functionality. They should serve as clean, hygienic and comfortable areas that foster employee inclusion and well-being.

Supporting sustainability

Creating an efficient bathroom space is key to saving energy and water, offering customers substantial savings through the introduction of technology that measures, analyses and reduces consumption. Conducting an energy audit and using data to guide improvements can help small businesses save up to 17 percent on energy bills annually. To facilitate these savings, dealers should recommend products such as timers and aerators for taps, which can conserve up to 40 litres of water per day.

Another area in which dealers can assist businesses to improve bathrooms is air quality. While a robust cleaning system can keep surfaces and touch points germ-free, mould and mildew can accumulate in unseen spaces, necessitating frequent cleaning and replacement of ventilation products. By offering specialised cleaning products for all areas of the bathroom, dealers can help businesses to keep bathrooms fresh and workplace sickness at bay.

Inspiring spaces

Although employees may not spend much time in the bathroom, it is a space with frequent visitors, including people from outside the organization. Just like any other area in the workplace, first impressions are crucial. Bathrooms don’t need to be boring. Rather, they can be fresh, welcoming and bright spaces that leave visitors and employees feeling refreshed.

Dealers can assist businesses in creating inspiring bathroom spaces by adding attractive lighting (with LED options contributing to sustainability efforts), eye-catching signage, posters, wall art and stylish storage solutions. Offering a variety of bathroom products can enhance the employee experience — businesses should consider going above the standard offerings to provide a diverse range of soaps, sanitizers, and female hygiene products.

By focusing on accessibility, sustainability and inspiring design, dealers can help businesses transform their bathrooms into spaces that not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance employee well-being and create positive impressions for all visitors.