Benefits of gender-neutral bathrooms in the workplace

Creating a gender-neutral or non-binary bathroom may come at a cost, particularly when your company is renting an office space. If you can swing it, the investment can have significant benefits for the business, employees and visitors.

Safer work environment

Gender-neutral bathrooms provide a safe, private place for your employees and clients to meet a basic human need. It’s hard to underestimate the benefit of feeling safe at work, especially for transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming people. According to Human Rights Council research, transgender people often experience physical assault, intimate partner violence and harassment in their private lives. An all-gender bathroom is one way to help your team feel comfortable and protected.

Inclusive culture

Are you looking for ways to build an inclusive workplace? Investing resources in a unisex bathroom shows employees that you’re serious about creating a culture that’s welcoming for everyone, just as they are. That’s not as common as you might think; while many businesses talk about their efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), a 2020 study found that just 21% of companies take a proactive approach to address common barriers.

Increased privacy

A single-occupancy gender-neutral bathroom provides extra privacy for users. This option benefits everyone in the company; it can be helpful for people with health or mobility challenges, parents with young visiting children, pregnant people or anyone who needs extra space.

Improved recruitment and retention

If you’re thinking about hiring, gender-neutral bathrooms could be an unexpected asset. According to a 2022 Gallup survey,42% of workers said that when they’re considering a new job, they look for companies that are “diverse and inclusive of all types of people.”

That doesn’t stop once the hiring process is over—another survey found that nearly 80% of employees think it’s important that their employers care about inclusion, equity and diversity. By proving your commitment to DE&I, you may be able to attract high-quality candidates and boost the retention rate for your existing workforce.

Best practices for unisex bathrooms at work

Public discourse is often heated around gender issues; it’s normal to be nervous about missteps regarding gender-neutral bathrooms. When in doubt, err on the side of decisions that respect the dignity, safety and privacy of all your employees. In doing so, you’ll maximize the benefits for your team and your business.

Start small

There’s no need to make all of your company’s bathrooms gender-neutral—you can start with one single-occupancy option. If your business is large, it’s a good idea to add at least one more unisex bathroom to ensure easy access.

Boost privacy

If your gender-neutral bathroom is a multi-occupant space, take steps to increase the privacy of each stall. Whenever possible, install doors and walls that run from the floor to the ceiling. Structural modifications might not be an option for renters, but you can install flaps to cover the gaps between the door and frame. Add-on partitions are an affordable solution for bathrooms with open space above and below stall walls.

Are you building a new bathroom? Consider how the placement affects privacy. If you can, put the bathroom entrance in a spot that’s not visible to the main office or reception area; that way, employees can enter without feeling like they’re on display.

Focus on convenience

Make sure your all-gender bathroom is easy to reach for all of your employees. Don’t hide it away in the basement or a corner of the warehouse. Keep in mind that people of all abilities may want to use the space, and ensure that it’s fully accessible.

Communicate with employees

It can take time for employees to get accustomed to a new bathroom configuration. You can speed the process by communicating about the change and educating your team. Explain that you’re making the change to create a more inclusive and welcoming workplace, and let workers know why it matters.

To avoid unwanted attention or issues of discrimination, emphasize that everyone is welcome to use the new bathroom, regardless of their gender identity. Point out the benefits, such as extra space, more privacy and a convenient location. By setting an inclusive tone early on, you can help your team feel free and comfortable using the gender-neutral bathroom without judgment.

Use clear signage

Signage is a critical part of a gender-neutral bathroom design. To make everyone feel welcome, you might stay away from traditional graphic representations of men and women. Instead, consider language such as, “all-gender restroom,” or “this bathroom is for everyone.” For a single-occupancy space, you can use a sign that simply says “restroom.”

If you want to use graphics, consider a simple toilet image. It’s also helpful to note if a bathroom is wheelchair-accessible using the traditional icon of a person in a wheelchair.

Support employees’ choices

If your company has both gender-segregated and gender-neutral bathrooms, encourage your employees to use the one that feels most comfortable. More importantly, insist that other team members respect their colleagues’ choices. Gender identity is a highly personal issue—when you avoid policing bathroom usage, you give employees the freedom to navigate their identities at their own pace.

Costs of gender-neutral bathrooms

There’s no question—adding a gender-neutral bathroom to your business comes at a cost. On average, you can expect to spend between $5,000 and $35,000. The price varies based on whether you’re updating an existing bathroom, repurposing a different space or building an addition.

The cheapest option is typically to convert an existing single-occupancy bathroom to an all-gender space. As long as the space is in good shape, you only need to switch out the signs. You can also save money by renovating an existing space. If you’re a renter, consider asking your landlord to share the construction or modification costs.

For many companies, the benefits of a gender-neutral bathroom outweigh the upfront costs. Done as part of a larger DE&I program, the space can help you create a welcoming environment with higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover and streamlined hiring.