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4 ways to improve ‘bio breaks’ at work, according to researchers

We are management researchers and we recently surveyed nearly 200 workers.

4 ways to improve ‘bio breaks’ at work, according to researchers

[Photo: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images]

BY AJ Hess4 minute read

Many organizations view employees as objects—another resource on the balance sheet. Other firms adopt a more positive approach to management and recognize that every employee is a human being. A follow-up to this idea is that all people have bodies: We need to eat, sleep, and exercise. However, a less flattering part of humanity is that we also need “bio breaks,” that is, to use the restroom periodically throughout the day.

As workers continue to return to the office after the pandemic, people are exchanging their home bathrooms for public facilities. Unfortunately, this is usually not an upgrade. (One worker even reported that their company provides only a fabric curtain to separate two toilets—yikes!). As many teams transition back to the office, now is a perfect time to rethink the intersection of human biology and work.

We are management researchers and we recently surveyed nearly 200 workers from various industries (e.g., agriculture, technology, education, healthcare, finance, law). We asked them about their experiences with bio breaks. Our data reveals that many people are comfortable with their bodies at work. However, some engage in worrying behavior: dehydrating themselves, leaving work to use a restroom at home, and mentally scheduling how often they use the facilities. Others used toilets that were not proximally close to their workspace to avoid being seen by coworkers. Indeed, there are a whole array of reasons that people feel uncomfortable.

While many workers did not report these behaviors, those who experience this type of anxiety should not be ignored. Further, we are all human, and making improvements around bio breaks directly impacts every employee. Based on our data, we identified four steps that managers should take to promote a professional and human-centric environment.

Build in breaks 

The ideal worker myth focuses on how the “best” worker is totally committed to work. As such, some employees reported that it was hard to find time to use the restroom and maintain high productivity levels, which corroborates the experiences of Amazon truck drivers. Other workers said that bathroom breaks were explicitly discouraged. Yet research overwhelmingly shows that we cannot work nonstop. Indeed, scheduling breaks can encourage creativity and offer a host of other benefits.

Employees want planned breaks during meetings. Indeed, a third of all employees from our survey reported that they would feel uncomfortable requesting a bio break during a meeting. One forward-thinking participant suggested that managers schedule meetings not to take up an entire block. If you work in an environment that often features back-to-back appointments, consider scheduling 25- or 55-minute sessions (instead of 30 or 60 minutes) to give employees a chance to grab a snack or use the restroom.

Reduce discomfort 

Many small and midsize companies are constrained, and more often than not the bathroom situation is less than ideal. When there is little to no privacy for basic hygiene, this naturally causes uncomfortable problems. For example, when a bathroom is physically near another location, some of our participants avoided the bathroom because they were “scared customers could hear.” Others expressed how uncomfortable it is to exit a bathroom and see that colleagues have been waiting in line. Some workers have expressed that having only one bathroom is uncomfortable, especially if a company’s workforce is primarily men.

If a company cannot completely revamp its office space, there are still steps it can take. Some employees reported that bathrooms at work had white-noise machines or air fresheners, which reduced some of the awkwardness. Even upgrading toilet paper or providing high-quality soap is appreciated. Providing bathroom spray doesn’t take much effort, but it can significantly reduce workplace embarrassment.

Encourage conscientiousness

Some employees reported experiences in which they or another coworker were likely too comfortable in workplace bathrooms. Although everyone has a body, cavalier or flippant attitudes can also be distracting. For example, one employee told of a coworker who would use the restroom on a morning team call—unmuted—several times a week. Other accounts included bosses making deals on the phone while in the bathroom.

Establish an environment in which everyone is conscientious of others. As a leader, set the standard and avoid having work-related conversations in the bathroom. Even if some employees are completely fine with conversations in the restroom, some are not. Rely on social cues to ensure employees feel respected.

Give employees the benefit of the doubt

Lastly, it is essential to give employees the benefit of the doubt regarding basic hygiene. Some workers reported situations in which they had to use the restroom frequently and indicated that their supervisor expressed anger at their bathroom usage. Another employee reported being yelled at for using the toilet while sick. When we asked if these employees had any suggestions, one indicated, “Tell the manager to treat bathroom breaks as he treats ‘breathing.’”

We encourage managers to consider not only the fancy perks—like on-site salons and all-you-can-eat buffets—but also the basics. You may not score any points for having a clean bathroom. Yet you can avoid losing credibility by being cognizant of this fundamental physiological need.


Thomas K. Kelemen is an assistant professor at Kansas State University. Michael J. Matthews is a doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AJ Hess is a staff editor for Fast Company’s Work Life section. AJ previously covered work and education for CNBC. More


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