Have you ever considered what happens when an employee quietly struggles with incontinence at work? It’s a subject often given little consideration and yet it’s surprisingly common. In fact, approximately 423 million people worldwide over age 20 live with urinary incontinence. That means that someone in your office or team could be managing this condition on a daily basis. 

If your workplace hygiene practices don’t account for incontinence, you might be missing a crucial piece of the jigsaw in providing an inclusive, healthy environment. Workplace hygiene isn’t just about shiny floors or empty bins; it’s also about addressing those “unmentionables” with compassion and proper facilities like incontinence disposal units.

Understanding Incontinence

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine (urinary continence) or faeces (bowel incontinence), a health issue that can affect people of all ages and genders. It’s far more common than many realise. In the UK alone, an estimated 14 million people have some degree of urinary incontinence and 6.5 million have some form of bowel problem. Although women are more often affected (childbirth and menopause being contributing factors), it’s not just a “female problem.” 

Women may be five times more likely to develop incontinence, but over 10% of men over 65 experience it too. There are many causes, from age-related muscle weakness to prostate or bladder conditions, and the severity can range from the occasional leak when coughing to a complete inability to control the bladder.

The key takeaway is that incontinence is widespread and not a personal failing; it’s a medical condition that calls for understanding and practical support. When we acknowledge how common it is, the next step becomes clear: providing ways for those affected to manage it discreetly, especially in public places and workplaces. For example, something as simple as a dedicated incontinence disposal bin in the washroom can make all the difference to an incontinence sufferers day.

Key Types of Incontinence

• Stress Incontinence
  Triggered by physical activity like coughing, sneezing or lifting, causing pressure on the bladder.
  
• Urge Incontinence
  A sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine.
  
• Mixed Incontinence
  A combination of both stress and urge incontinence symptoms.
  
• Faecal Incontinence
  The inability to control bowel movements, causing unintentional soiling.
  

Incontinence in the Workplace: An Overlooked Issue

The Emotional and Professional Toll

Despite its prevalence, incontinence remains an overlooked issue in many workplaces. Employees who suffer from it often treat it like a shameful secret. They may fear a visible accident or the crinkle of a used pad in their bag and this stigma means employees could avoid speaking up at work about what they need. 

Lack of Facilities = Lack of Inclusion

Now imagine being at the office and needing to change an incontinence pad. If the washroom has no suitable incontinence disposal bin, what do you do? Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. While women’s toilet cubicles generally have sanitary bins for the disposal of menstrual products, most men’s toilets lack comparable facilities, meaning there are usually no sanitary bins in their cubicles for incontinence products.

The result? A hushed crisis of workplace hygiene and dignity. *Research by Initial Washroom Hygiene found that only about 17% of men with incontinence have access to appropriate disposal facilities in their workplace washrooms. Nearly a third of sufferers (around 30%) have even been forced to carry a used pad or liner home in their coat or briefcase due to the lack of bins.

Not having proper washroom bins for incontinence waste isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a barrier to employee comfort, focus, and equality. When we talk about creating an inclusive workplace, we must include the washroom; in other words, we must strive for inclusive washrooms as well.

Inclusive Washroom Solutions from Initial

In-Cubicle Hygiene for All Regardless of Gender

So, how can we address this need and make truly inclusive washrooms? The answer lies in providing discreet, user-friendly incontinence disposal options, and this is where Initial Washroom Hygiene’s expertise comes in. 

Initial Washroom Hygiene has recognised that washroom waste bins shouldn’t be exclusive to female cubicles. Through our Stalls for All initiative, we have been championing the idea that every toilet cubicle, regardless of the gender shown on the washroom door, should offer a hygienic way to dispose of incontinence products.

We have also introduced innovations like our male in-cubicle dispenser (which provides products such as absorbent protector pads or shields at the point of need) to ensure that help is at hand when accidents happen. 

By equipping washrooms with both dispensers and waste disposal bins, businesses send a clear message: “We care about every user’s comfort and dignity.” These inclusive washroom set ups help break the taboo by making the support visible.  This is much like a ramp at a building entrance signals wheelchair accessibility to those visiting, seeing an incontinence pad dispenser and waste bin in a cubicle signals that your workplace is thinking about the needs of all washroom users.

The Business Case for Incontinence Disposal

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Alignment

Addressing incontinence in workplace washrooms isn’t just an act of empathy, it also makes good business sense. Providing incontinence disposal facilities contributes directly to your DEI goals. By meeting the needs of all employees, you show a genuine commitment to health, comfort, and emotional wellbeing.

Legal and Reputational Risk Mitigation

Incontinence waste isn’t ordinary rubbish. In the UK, it’s classified as “offensive waste,” which means businesses must handle and dispose of it correctly under strict regulations. Partnering with a professional sanitary waste removal service provider, such as Initial Washroom Hygiene, ensures you’re compliant with waste legislation and duty-of-care obligations.

Providing sanitary waste disposal bins in male and female washrooms also helps demonstrate that your business recognises and respects the full spectrum of user needs. It’s not just good ethics, it’s smart reputation management.

Final Thoughts

For too long, incontinence in the workplace has been the elephant in the room; present but rarely acknowledged. However, workplace hygiene and genuine inclusivity require that we shed light on this issue. When we provide something as simple as placing washroom waste bins in the right places, we’re doing more than just managing waste; we’re extending empathy and respect.

By normalising incontinence disposal in our workplaces, we help erode the stigma that keeps people suffering in silence. Ultimately, addressing incontinence at work is about fostering a culture where everyone feels included and valued. It’s about turning those once-awkward, hushed topics into just another part of how we care for our team, ensuring inclusive washrooms are the standard in every workplace.

If you’re ready to create a more inclusive environment and raise your workplace hygiene standards, consider taking the next step. 

Contact Initial Washroom Hygiene for expert guidance on implementing incontinence disposal solutions and arranging sanitary waste removal services tailored to your business.

*The research was undertaken by Opinium on behalf of Initial Washroom Hygiene. The survey sample was over 900 UK male adults. The survey was conducted online between April 11th and 12th, 2022.