Inclusion in the workplace isn’t just about having the right policies or an inspiring mission statement.
It’s about what people experience, every single day, when they move through a space.
And as FM professionals, you are uniquely positioned to influence those experiences — not through grand gestures, but through the details of how buildings are designed, fitted out, and maintained.
One of the most overlooked areas?
Hydration points, kitchen spaces, and washrooms.
Why Inclusion Starts with Everyday Usability
Think about the spaces you manage or fit out:
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Break rooms and kitchens
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Washrooms and staff areas
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Collaboration hubs and open plan spaces
These are the spaces where people refuel, reset, and recharge.
But too often, they’re designed for the "average" user — not the full diversity of people who will use them.
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Neurodivergent employees.
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Older staff.
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Pregnant women.
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People with temporary injuries.
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Colleagues with visual or dexterity challenges.
When a space works well for these users, it works better for everyone.
How the Wrong Spec Undermines Inclusion
Here are just a few examples we see all the time:
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Taps with stiff, hard-to-grip levers that exclude users with arthritis or reduced grip strength.
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Hot/cold controls with poor visual contrast, making them difficult or dangerous for visually impaired or neurodivergent users.
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Worktops and hydration points installed too high or too deep, making them inaccessible to wheelchair users or those of smaller stature.
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Fixtures that produce noisy or unpredictable responses, causing distress or sensory overload for some neurodivergent users.
These may sound like small issues.
But for the person affected — they’re not small at all.
They send a signal:
This space wasn’t designed for you.
What Inclusive Spec Looks Like
At The Tap Specialist, we help FM teams choose hydration and kitchen solutions that actively support inclusion — without compromising on design or performance.
That means:
✅ Taps with easy-to-use, ergonomic controls
✅ Clear visual indicators for temperature
✅ Safe-to-use boiling water taps with intuitive dispensing
✅ Install guidance to ensure hydration points are truly accessible
✅ Options that reduce sensory load while maintaining style and functionality
And beyond hydration, the same principles apply:
- Lever or sensor taps in washrooms
- Height-adjustable or varied-height worktops
- Thoughtful appliance selection and placement
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Good acoustics and visual contrast in high-traffic areas
Inclusion happens in the details.
And it’s those details that you, as FM professionals, are trusted to get right.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Your clients are under more pressure than ever to prove their workplaces support wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion:
- In ESG reporting
- In DEI strategies
- In staff engagement surveys
- In attracting and retaining talent
The right spec choices are a simple, visible way to back those commitments up — and as an FM partner, this is a key area where you can add real value.
Inclusion is no longer something you bolt on at the end of a project.
It’s something you build into the space from day one.
And we’re here to help.
If you’d like to explore inclusive hydration and kitchen solutions for your clients, we’d love to support you.
Because when everyone can thrive in a space — everyone wins.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Your clients are under more pressure than ever to prove their workplaces support wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion:
- In ESG reporting
- In DEI strategies
- In staff engagement surveys
- In attracting and retaining talent
The right spec choices are a simple, visible way to back those commitments up — and as an FM partner, this is a key area where you can add real value.
Inclusion is no longer something you bolt on at the end of a project.
It’s something you build into the space from day one.
And we’re here to help.
If you’d like to explore inclusive hydration and kitchen solutions for your clients, we’d love to support you.
