ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Nearly one in five employees refuse to use the toilets at work because of poor hygiene, a study has revealed.

Low levels of cleanliness coupled with a lack of sanitary supplies such as toilet paper and hand towels prompt many workers to go elsewhere to find a toilet - or wait until they get home.

And 22 per cent of people questioned said they avoided the kitchens at work because of issues such as splattered food and mountains of dirty dishes, according to the study.

The poll of 2,000 workers, commissioned by global hygiene and health company Essity, found that 45 per cent believe their workplace is a "breeding ground for bacteria".

Microwaves are the top office hygiene gripe followed by filthy fridges, overflowing bins, dirty sinks, and mouldy food in the fridge.

"During the Covid era it felt as though everyone took their personal hygiene and other people's safety far more seriously," said Essity communications director Gareth Lucy. "But oh, how quickly things change. This survey demonstrates a serious drop in office cleanliness at a time when it should still be a number one priority. And employees are understandably frustrated at the conditions in which they are expected to work."

Around 60 per cent of those polled said they felt more productive in a clean workspace - and 22 per cent claimed to have complained to management or HR about the state of their surroundings.

However, the study found that some good habits persisted post-COVID with 36 per cent of workers claiming to sanitise their hands regularly while 35 per cent now habitually made solo drinks instead of brewing up for everyone.