Valentine’s Day, 2021: Can Improved Restroom Hygiene Rescue the Workplace Romance?

Jim and Pam wouldn’t stand a chance in 2021.

Just in case you’ve never seen The Office… Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) were coworkers at Dunder-Mifflin who flirted, then dated, and then got married and had a baby. Their workplace romance made for some of the sweetest, funniest moments in sitcom history.

These days, however, their story might seem pretty improbable. While there are millions of potential real-life Jims and Pams out there today, they’re not meeting at their workplaces—because they’re working from home due to COVID-19.

Well, it’s almost Valentine’s Day, and—as a company who helps make all kinds of workplaces better places to work—we want to go on record as saying that’s a shame.

Workplace Romances are A Big Deal!

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so many aspects of life for so many people, it might seem kind of trivial to talk about how it’s impacted workplace romances.

But… did we mention that Valentine’s Day is coming up?

And workplace romances are a big deal! Did you know 22 percent of U.S. married couples met at work? Yes, more than one in five couples first caught each other’s eye over coffee in the office break room, or serving lunch in a high-end restaurant, or teaching 7th grade together, or in the box office of a downtown theater.

Today, those couples aren’t meeting, because many of those workplaces remain closed as a result of the pandemic.

It’s true that many organizations discourage workplace relationships. And younger generations are less likely to pursue workplace romance—one study found that, between 1995 and 2017, the percentage of  couples who met through work dropped from 19 to 11 percent.

Now, even those few Jims may never meet their Pams if their workplaces don’t reopen soon.

Welcome Back to Your Touch-free Workplace

Much has to happen before offices, restaurants, schools, and entertainment venues can reopen to their full, pre-COVID levels. But one big factor will be convincing workers and the public that those buildings are safe—and that means making sure public spaces are as hygienic as possible.

Hey—that’s where we come in!

One place people are especially aware of hygiene issues is the restroom, and we’re experts at helping architects, designers, engineers, and facility managers make commercial restrooms more hygienic.

We start by making them touch-free. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more and more organizations have come around to the idea that touch-free restrooms are essential to creating more hygienic public spaces. After all, it’s well-known that when people touch fewer restroom surfaces, they are less likely to transmit disease.

Pioneers in Touch-free Technology

We introduced our first touch-free faucet in 1974 and now offer the industry’s broadest selection of touch-free, sensor-operated faucets, soap dispensers, hand dryers, and flushometers.

Throughout the world, new buildings are being created with unprecedented hygiene built in, and building owners are retrofitting existing restrooms with touch-free products that promote occupants’ safety.

Finally, organizations are incorporating Sloan mobile handwashing stations throughout their facilities to help workers and visitors make hygiene a full-time priority.

We applaud these efforts to make the world’s workplaces more hygienic, and we’re proud to help them re-open as soon as public health permits.

We look forward to the day when future Jims and Pams can enjoy their Valentine’s Day lunches and return to work with leaping hearts, sparkling eyes, and hygienically clean hands.

Want more information and ideas about upgrading your restrooms for increased hygiene? Contact Sloan!