Shower facilities at work?

BossArky

I have been working on a project in Dublin since the beginning of May, staying in hotels which is clocking up the expenses. The client wants to curb the money being spent on accomodation etc by putting the project team into appartments around the city. I took a look at one of these appartments last night, its in Clontarf. Work is in Swords. I would take this appartment if there was the possibilty of having a shower in work after cycling the few km up to Swords. I want to cycle for the sake of fitness as I used to do 70km round trips each day in my last job in France.

Problem --> The building where the project is based is being rented and dosen't have shower facilities. I don't want to turn up in a suit all sweaty after hopping off a bike.

Is it not a pretty basic requirement nowadays to provide facilities like a shower so that employees can exercise at lunchtime, etc? The reception woman whom I queried the shower with thought it was hilarious that I wanted to have a shower in work. The project manager seemed to think I was joking too. Strikes me as rather small minded.

Just wondering if I am alone in my frustration.

daveg

When I worked for a large multinational in Galway we had shower facilities in work. It was the dogs bollax tbh. I used to work nights and would have a shower to freshen up in the morning. Superb company to work for... the shower facilities for employees were just the tip of the iceburg for employee perks.

To my mind perks like these happen less and less with companies, and now, to be honest, most employers would laugh at you if you requested showers.

WizZard

Sadly it's not the norm here. I doubt there would be a requirement for an employer to have showers (in a normal 9-5 office).

They would be more of a perk than anything as daveg has said

Downtime

More modern buildings seem to have them but I worked for a large multi-national for a number of years and there were none, nor are there in my present job. Would be nice though.

ixoy

Previous joub had them and many of the cyclists would use them in the morning. Never thought they were a requirement - always just a perk (even if I never used 'em). Just use the sinks, some toilet paper, and deodorant - classy...

leeroybrown

They're certainly not a requirement but a lot of large multinationals and some more 'modern' companies will have them.

I used to cycle commute (10km each way) and had to make do with washing in the bathroom before starting work. Two of my colleagues still do this and a third occasionally goes for a decent length cycle in the middle of the day. Not having a shower is irritating but you can do without it. I work in an office with a formal dress code and this was never a problem.

WhiteWashMan

BossArky wrote:

I have been working on a project in Dublin since the beginning of May, staying in hotels which is clocking up the expenses. The client wants to curb the money being spent on accomodation etc by putting the project team into appartments around the city. I took a look at one of these appartments last night, its in Clontarf. Work is in Swords. I would take this appartment if there was the possibilty of having a shower in work after cycling the few km up to Swords. I want to cycle for the sake of fitness as I used to do 70km round trips each day in my last job in France.

Problem --> The building where the project is based is being rented and dosen't have shower facilities. I don't want to turn up in a suit all sweaty after hopping off a bike.

Is it not a pretty basic requirement nowadays to provide facilities like a shower so that employees can exercise at lunchtime, etc? The reception woman whom I queried the shower with thought it was hilarious that I wanted to have a shower in work. The project manager seemed to think I was joking too. Strikes me as rather small minded.

Just wondering if I am alone in my frustration.

ah, if only.
id love to be able to go for a run at lunch or something like that, but unfortuntely, its not a requirement.

as said, many of the more modern larger buildings will have a bathromm with a shower facility in them, but to be honest, its your own business on how you get to work, and its up to you to be presentable in work.
if you decide to cycle to work, then you will just have to put up with being a sweaty smelly person for he day

nesf

WhiteWashMan wrote:

then you will just have to put up with being a sweaty smelly person for he day

Or more accurately, everyone else will have to put up with it.


OP: sorrys mate, cycling to work is a choice, they don't have to cater for it. It'd be nice if they did, but they aren't required to.

BossArky

I am contemplating asking the other companies around the are if they have shower facilities, and if so... if I can use them. Doubt they would be too keen on it to be honest.

WizZard

BossArky wrote:

I am contemplating asking the other companies around the are if they have shower facilities, and if so... if I can use them. Doubt they would be too keen on it to be honest.

I doubt it..

Civilian_Target

Showers are pretty much a requirement in any multi-racial place of work because there are a lot of religions out there that have requirements that they wash their feet after eating certain meals - and no-one wants them to wash their feet in the sink.

Given that work's in Swords - I think its pretty unusual that they don't have showers - most decent sized, out of town work-places in Dublin have showers now. You should ask, cycle commuting is getting more common in Ireland.

Also - there's a pretty good cycle lane from Santry->Swords but the bit from Clontarf to Santry's fairly dodgy, particularly coming down Collins Ave. though Whitehall.

You might also find this to be of use -> http://www.civiliantarget.com/cycle

BossArky

Those route maps look pretty handy Civilian_Target, thanks.

I will do the rounds of the other companies at lunchtime on Monday to see what sort of reaction I get.

Anyone any ideas how much it would cost to transform one or two toilet stalls into shower cubicles? The building currenty has 4 medium sized bathrooms, none with showers though. Perhaps if I round up enough people to request shower facilities we may make some progress.

nesf

Civilian_Target wrote:

Showers are pretty much a requirement in any multi-racial place of work because there are a lot of religions out there that have requirements that they wash their feet after eating certain meals - and no-one wants them to wash their feet in the sink.

I'd assume that it wouldn't be a requirement since most companies don't supply food on premesis. I could be wrong.

Plus a full shower would be excessive tbh. Perhaps a small foot washing thingy, or a low "sink" (can't remember the name off the top of my head).

0utshined

Bidet?