Only one in four workplace washrooms meet employees’ hygiene and cleanliness expectations, according to a new Tork survey. Lee Radzki from Tork manufacturer Essity considers the importance of providing clean and comfortable washrooms to tempt people back to the office.
Recent findings from Essity’s UK Insight Survey reveal that 15 per cent of respondents are working from home more frequently than they would have done due to the poor washroom provision at work.
Common issues cited for making workplace washrooms unpleasant included consistently poor hygiene standards, unpleasant odours and the frequent absence of basic consumables such as soap and toilet paper.
This concern underscores the importance of creating inviting and hygienic office environments to encourage in-person attendance. And the survey reinforces previous research from Tork that reveals a clear link between a clean, well-functioning workspace and employees’ appreciation levels.
A total of 86% of office employees regarded cleanliness as the most important aspect of a good work environment, while 85 per cent felt that the cleanliness of the washrooms reflected that of the building overall. And 67% of staff members said they were more likely to complain about a washroom than any other aspect of their office.
These findings are concerning at a time when many people are choosing to work from home wherever possible. According to a global study by facilities services company ISS this year, around 80% of people now work remotely at least once a week.
The Evolving Workplaces survey of nearly 11,000 office workers revealed that hybrid working had become the new norm. However, 71% of workers still felt that physical trips to the office were important to facilitate social interaction and knowledge-sharing.
Employers are struggling to tempt people back to the office in an age when working from home has become the easier option. Some are introducing gyms, activity areas and food experiences to help meet their workers’ ever-growing expectations.
So it makes sense for the washrooms to be upgraded as well to create a comfortable sanctuary for stressed-out workers.
An aesthetically-pleasing washroom demonstrates a high level of care on the part of the employer. Soft lighting along with extras such as tissues, fresh flowers and hand creams will be appreciated by staff members.
Attractive dispensers for soap and paper such as the Tork Image Design Line help to create a “feel-good” factor in the office washroom. These units combine brushed stainless steel with a black trim to create a co-ordinated look.
Regular cleaning and maintenance checks will ensure that the facilities are kept in a sanitary condition. And the design of the washroom and the choice of fixtures can play a major role in ensuring the facility remains clean, uncluttered and well-stocked.
Smooth walls and continuous floors are a good alternative to tiles because grout lines will quickly become grimy. Automatic taps and flush systems will help to prevent the build-up of grimy fingermarks. And curved dispensers with no sharp corners or edges where dirt could collect will be easier to wipe clean than boxy units.
A shortage of washroom essentials such as toilet paper, soap and hand towels features high on the list of criticisms about office toilets. Efforts should therefore be made to ensure that these supplies are never be allowed to run out.
All hand towels should be housed in a high-capacity dispenser that gives out only one at a time to avoid run-outs. For example, the Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser gives out sheets of paper singly and has an easy-to-clean casing to ensure an attractive and hygienic appearance. The dispenser also caters for over 1000 washroom visitors between refills, 600 more than most other dispensers.
Non-drip soap systems will also help to prevent mess and run-outs. For example, Tork Foam Soaps come in sealed cartridges that cater for up to 1650 visitors per refill compared with around 1000 in most liquid soap units, ensuring a continuous supply.
All toilet tissue systems should also provide a long-lasting supply of paper. For example, the Tork SmartOne toilet paper dispenser reduces consumption by up to 40 per cent because it automatically limits the amount of toilet paper that people take out. It is available in a twin roll version which allows the cleaner to insert a new roll at any time.
Inconvenient run-outs of soap and paper can also be avoided with the aid of technology. Tork Vision Cleaning allows cleaners to remotely check on which dispensers are running low via a smartphone or tablet. Meanwhile, people-counters allow a facility to build up a profile of washroom visits and provide data on which toilets are attracting the highest levels of traffic. This enables cleaners to service and replenish the toilets where necessary, ensuring that these facilities remain clean and well stocked.
The problem of overflowing bins can be addressed in a highly sustainable way by signing up for Tork PaperCircle. Businesses subscribing to the world’s first recycling service for paper hand towels will have their used towels picked up from their premises and taken to local recycling centres where they will be turned into other tissue products.
Unpleasant odours are an immediate turn-off in an office washroom, so all efforts should be made to address this issue. Windows should be opened wherever possible to ventilate the toilets, while an effective fragrancing system with further counteract any bad smells.
The Tork Constant Air Freshener uses a propellant-free technology to neutralise odours continuously and evenly. The fragrance lasts for up to 90 days before needing a refill and the system is available in a range of scents that eliminate bad smells.
In order to support employers we at Essity have launched the Tork Office Hygiene Package. This comprises a raft of tools for businesses aimed at improving staff satisfaction with workplace cleanliness and hygiene. These include the Office Complaints Minimiser, a gamified digital challenge that allows facility managers to test their knowledge against industry data and discover hygiene and cleaning solutions designed to reduce complaints and save time.
The toilets at work should provide an inviting and pleasant environment where staff are made to feel comfortable, valued and safe. So a good design, aesthetically-pleasing systems and optimum hygiene are all essential requirements if employees are to be tempted back into the office washroom.
https://www.torkglobal.com/gb/en
