Using the toilet at work should be a simple, everyday matter – yet for many people, it’s a significant source of stress

Some employees feel so anxious about it that they avoid using workplace facilities altogether. This “toilet anxiety” can have a serious impact on wellbeing, with a recent survey revealing that 34% of workers feel too self-conscious or uneasy to use the loo during the workday. This anxiety can arise from various factors – including worries about hygiene, noise, smell, or underlying digestive and health issues. As a result, one in four employees choose to wait until they get home to use the toilet, with women more likely to be affected than men.

Time for Some Toilet Talk

On the surface, helping employees feel comfortable using the toilet may not seem like a business priority – but it should be. Toilet anxiety doesn’t just affect wellbeing; it can also reduce productivity, impact health and has a financial cost. For example, one survey found that employees spend around 14 minutes a day in the workplace toilets. And that’s just the average – for people who feel anxious and end up waiting for privacy or putting it off, the time is likely even higher. We get it – it’s not always the easiest topic to bring up. But when customers are ordering bathroom products, it can be the perfect moment to the highlight solutions and products designed to reduce and alleviate toilet anxiety.

Providing Privacy

One of the main reasons employees avoid using workplace toilets is embarrassment. Many feel uncomfortable if someone is already in a stall or worry that co-workers can hear them. While complete privacy isn’t always possible, there are practical products that dealers can recommend which can help staff feel more at ease.

For example, sound masking – such as installing fans or white-noise systems – can reduce anxiety about noise. In cubicle-style toilets, adding privacy strips, door sweeps, or modesty panels can transform a standard stall into a near full-height cubicle, without the cost and disruption of a full refit. Another simple but budget-friendly option is the addition of frosted or tinted vinyl film on window – letting in natural light while increasing privacy.

Employers can also improve comfort by separating toilet areas from hygiene spaces. Using dividers or acoustic panelling to create a distinction between stalls and sinks makes employees feel less exposed, especially when others are just popping in to wash their hands.

Fresh and Clean

Concerns about smell are another common reason why employees may avoid using workplace toilets. While hygiene and cleanliness are usually high on the agenda for most businesses, reducing anxiety around odours often requires a few extra, thoughtful measures.

Automatic air fresheners are a popular, low-cost solution – easy to install and maintain, they keep facilities smelling fresh throughout the day. But many fragrance-based systems only mask unpleasant smells. For a more effective approach, encourage customers to consider odour neutralisers, which actually break down and eliminate odours rather than covering them up.

For businesses with the scope to invest a little more, improved ventilation or extractor fans can make a big difference. By increasing airflow and removing odours quickly, they not only improve comfort but also reinforce a sense of cleanliness.

At first glance, making sure employees feel comfortable using the toilets might not seem like a big priority. But for staff, it can have a real impact on how they experience their day at work. That’s why these “small” details are anything but small. A little extra privacy here, some fresh air there, and the bathroom can shift from being a source of stress to simply another part of a supportive, healthier workplace.