Is It Too Much to Ask for Some Office Bathroom Improvements?

Andrew G.R.

My last two blog posts for Outside Voices have generated a fair share of criticism. While I know blog commenters are more likely to participate when they disagree with you, I've decided to write about something that only an insane person couldn't agree with: needed improvements to your office bathroom.

We're not talking marble tile, granite countertops, and Kohler appliances. Rather, simple changes that would make the entire experience a lot more human. My time (and hopefully yours) in the workplace lavatory is an infrequent experience, and I understand that employers don't want us to become too comfortable away from our desks. Or you might end up like the janitor at my job who nods off for several hours a day in stall No. 2.

Here are my ideas (from a male perspective). Take a gander, and then share yours.

LET THERE BE NO LIGHT. Doors should close flush and run all the way to the floor. So should urinal dividers. Shoes are a dead giveaway of who's conducting their business, and you should never EVER have to see anyone else's business. We all go, but that doesn't make it any less embarrassing.

LOCK IT UP. Broken latches and busted locks are a risky proposition. Who needs to run the risk of a colleague walking in on you with your pants around the ankles? Your company should always make sure door locks are fully functional.

MUSIC TO MY EARS. Aside from running water, blowing hand driers, and the passing of waste, the bathroom is a magnet for eerie silence. Is a little Muzak too much to ask for? Why can't companies pump the local radio station, invest in a satellite radio, or even have employees submit mixes?

POTPOURRI. Would a can of Lysol make the CFO dizzy and send the company into the financial red? It seems that way! Some spray scents or plug-in odors would be a welcome addition.

From two-ply paper to an antibacterial dispenser, how would you improve your office bathroom?

After holding down various media jobs, including stops at MTV Networks and Fox News, Andrew G.R. was completely discouraged—not only about his own career but about the lack of job resources that truly spoke to him. Enter Jobacle.com, the employment blog and podcast designed to Make Work Better.