Don't underestimate washrooms in the workplace

WE'VE ALLl been there haven’t we? We’re out and about somewhere and then we need to pay a visit to the loo, only to be greeted by a grubby and less than appealing washroom that frankly we don’t want to use. It’s bad enough to visit one of these places just once, but imagine if you had a washroom like this in your workplace? How would it make you feel? Would it cloud your view of your employer?

The post-lockdown workplace

We spend around a quarter of our adult lives at work, so the environment we work in is important to our overall health and wellbeing. And, in an increasingly competitive labour market, many businesses have had to think about how they are viewed as an employer in order to attract and retain good staff, meaning the workplace itself has to be more appealing than before.

With many more people back in the workplace post-pandemic, businesses must work harder than ever to achieve better employee satisfaction. Making the office a destination is a challenge – these days, it’s very much about catering for the employee to ensure that people feel safe and secure in the work environment and that their needs are being met.  

Attracting and retaining talent has long been an important issue for businesses, but in the current climate, it’s become even more pressing. The cost-of-living rose sharply across the UK in 2021 and 2022, reaching a 41-year high last October of 11.1%. Although it eased to 7.9% in June, the high rates of inflation are affecting the affordability of goods and services for many people. 

In response to the crisis, many employees are pushing their employers to offer more competitive packages. And while increasing wages is the most common response to the cost-of-living crisis, many firms are looking beyond financial benefits to other incentives that could motivate staff to stay with them.

Flexible and hybrid working have created complex hygiene needs in the workplace and, coupled with a society that is now continually focused on health and wellbeing, it is essential for businesses to create clean hygienic spaces that help employees to feel safe at work. 

Today’s employees want to see how far their employers deliver on health and wellbeing and the more progressive companies are conquering the challenge for today’s talent by focusing on the importance of the work environment. Facilities and HR managers have an important role to play in making their workplaces attractive to this new breed of workers.

With hybrid working now the norm, today’s working environments will naturally be compared with home working. Offices now need to provide more attractive places that allow people to connect with colleagues and this means offering them everything they have at home – practical work spaces, quiet zones, a pleasant kitchen provision and, of course, satisfactory washroom facilities.

Supporting employee wellbeing

A site’s facilities are likely to be viewed negatively by employees if they are not properly maintained – and that means washrooms need to be up to scratch too. It might often be overlooked, but washrooms in the workplace really do have an enormous impact on employees’ health and satisfaction.

When considering the overall quality of the workplace, the washroom must never be neglected. Washrooms are a key element of the work experience – every employee will need to use one at some point during the working day – and if they’re poorly managed, they will have a negative impact on employees. 

With businesses in all sectors struggling to recruit and keep staff, the washroom must reflect the image of the company in a positive light. And, because washrooms play an important role in preserving employees’ health and wellbeing, they should be clean, hygienic, well designed and well stocked. But it’s also important to ensure that they are sustainable too.

Forward-thinking businesses need to be adaptable and flexible with their washroom provision too. Millennial workers have greater wellbeing concerns, but they also want to ensure that they are working in places that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. When planning a washroom for example, businesses need to have an understanding of diverse needs and provide considerate spaces that support modern expectations.

Millennial’s matter

It’s predicted that by 2025, 75% of the working population will be Millennials, and it is this younger generation that will see the bigger impact of global warming. Millennials will want to work for businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability across all areas of the place of work – including the washroom. Younger workers, in particular, will want to see that their employer is working hard to reduce waste and over-use throughout the business.

Furthermore, with environmental, social and governance (ESG) becoming an integral part of businesses, washrooms must be more than environmentally friendly, they should be accessible and inclusive too. 

According to recent research released by KPMG UK, 20% of office workers would turn down a job if ESG policies were deemed lacking, and almost half of workers want the company they work for to show a commitment to ESG. 

It can be a challenge to balance all these considerations in a workplace washroom, however a good place to start is by carefully choosing the right dispensing solution. 

Workforce welfare

Washrooms systems that reduce the use of consumables like soap and paper towels will be well received by staff who value the environment. Providers should therefore look for high-capacity, controlled-use dispensers that restrict the use of consumables and prevent over-use. Not only does this help to cut costs, it also reduces waste and is therefore more environmentally sustainable.

The way a disposable product is dispensed is important in helping to promote hygiene as well as minimising the impact on the environment. Dispensers that are sealed, and splash-proof keep products safely stored inside, helping to prevent the contents becoming contaminated. Similarly, those that have been designed to release one length of paper at a time naturally limit consumption, thus reducing over-use and contributing to sustainability.

While it’s important to make sure washrooms deliver optimal hygiene, it’s also important to make sure this is provided in as sustainable a way as possible. Sustainability translates into worker values, especially those of Millennial workers. 

Designing in sustainability

Thinking sustainably, it makes sense for businesses to assess the sustainability of the washroom supply chain itself too. Are suppliers manufacturing in an environmentally conscious way? Are they taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint? Do their solutions minimise energy and wastage in the washroom? Are their logistics as sustainable as they can be? 

Electric hand dryers, for instance, may consume high amounts of energy which could contribute to the carbon footprint of the business. Paper dispensers may be considered more sustainable as many do not require electricity to power them. Of course, the paper used in the hand towels themselves can make an important contribution to sustainability and providers should also always ensure that paper products are made only from raw materials that have been responsibly sourced – either from recycled materials or from sustainably managed forests. 

Northwood Hygiene, for instance, manufactures Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper within its UK-made Raphael range, as well as offering 100% recycled paper options. 

The pandemic has radicalised how washrooms are designed and managed. From catering for higher volumes of traffic to designing out fixtures that people need to touch, they can be made as hygienic and sustainable as possible, thus helping to build confidence in the workforce whilst supporting businesses in lowering their carbon footprint. 

With hygiene and safety still important to employees, supplies need to be stocked and maintained to keep washroom users happy.  High-capacity washroom systems that minimise runouts of consumables are therefore a must in the workplace. As well as helping to achieve good standards of hygiene, they also allow the washroom to be managed more efficiently and sustainably. And in an era of rising prices amid the cost-of-living crisis, this is an important benefit to businesses as they seek to offer the best washroom experience to workers at a sustainable cost. 

The high-capacity Raphael collection from Northwood, for instance, comprises four hand towel and two toilet tissue dispensers, along with a soap dispenser. Every product within the range is designed to reduce waste and over consumption - our roll towel dispensers, for example, dispense at controlled lengths and our Z towel dispensers dispense one sheet at a time to avoid over-use.  

Washrooms in the workplace should also accommodate the needs of all users and reflect modern society. Businesses often consider disability access, but the need to provide gender-neutral rest rooms, for example, is growing. Accessibility for all is an important element of good washroom design, clearly indicating that they are accessible, inclusive and part of a workplace culture that supports and nurtures everyone. 

Modern employees judge the workplace based on their experience, so they should be inviting spaces where people feel safe, comfortable and respected. The washroom tells people how an organisation treats people and how important their health and wellbeing is. Choosing the right products and equipment will go a long way in helping to deliver a pleasant washroom experience that contributes to the wellbeing of employees and creates a positive impression of their workplace.

Paul Mulready is marketing manager at Northwood Hygiene Products. 

For further information, please visit www.northwood.co.uk, or call 01952 236 930.