Q: What are best practices for law firms when it comes to bathroom policies?

A: Here are three core principles for ensuring inclusive restrooms.

1. Ensure that all single-stall restrooms are designated “all-gender.” A growing number of jurisdictions legally mandate such signage on any single-stall restroom, including NYC, DC, and San Francisco, but we recommend law firms to do so in every office and on every floor.

2. Increase privacy. Where there is any new build, design stalls to be fully private so that each stall can be designated a single-stall, “all-gender” restroom. Consider expanding partitions in existing stalls to create more all-gender, inclusive options.

3. Where a workplace continues to maintain multi-stall, single-sex restrooms (i.e. men’s room and women’s room), be sure to include a policy that outlines the OSHA standards that everyone has the right to use the restroom in accordance with gender identity. Include language that addresses the harms of “gender-policing” (commenting on or objecting to which restroom a person uses). Be sure that every employee is trained on this policy and is familiar with why this matters to colleagues, clients, and the business.