Deborah Garlick
CEO, Menstruation Friendly
Creating a menstruation friendly workplace is now high on the agenda. Employers must recognise and support the need for a change in attitude.
With menopause friendly workplace policies widely accepted as best practice, many leading employers are now looking to be menstruation friendly as a natural progression. Far from being a ‘tick box’ exercise, the recently published BSI Menstruation, Menstrual Health and Menopause in the Workplace guidance (BS30416) put this topic firmly on the inclusion agenda and rightly so.
Clear need for menstruation friendly strategies
Earlier this year, Henpicked: Menstruation Friendly and FitrWoman polled over 750 employers and employees on the topic of menstrual health. It revealed a definite need for greater awareness, understanding and support:
- 83% of employees think their workplace should have a menstruation friendly policy
- 76% of employees reported menstrual health symptoms impact their work performance
- 64% of employers haven’t had expert training to be confident when having a conversation about menstrual health with employees
Priorities of menstruation friendly workplaces
The findings of the research also revealed the first three priorities to tackle are:
- Normalising the conversation
- Training all colleagues, male and female, from senior management to junior staff
- Introducing and acting upon a menstrual health workplace policy
There exists a taboo around menstrual health in the workplace. Yet, with 76% of employees saying menstrual health issues impact their ability to be their best at work and 40% believing their monthly menstruation challenges are affecting their career progress, employers need to act if they are to recruit and retain top talent.
Raising awareness and educating people
through training forms the foundations
of a menstruation friendly workplace.
Breaking down barriers
“Speaking to employers, we know that a major barrier for them is not knowing how to start a conversation around menstrual health,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menstruation Friendly — the first organisation to be awarded CPD accreditation for its menstruation in the workplace training, acknowledging its provision of accurate, evidence-based education and resources.
Knowledge is power for employees
“Raising awareness and educating people through training forms the foundations of a menstruation friendly workplace,” says Garlick. “Then, having broken the ice, sharing resources, supporting and signposting employees to specialist services can bring reassurance and relief from symptoms.”
Garlick advocates the free FitRWoman app. Scientifically formulated and developed in conjunction with Olympic Champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, it can help women truly understand their menstrual cycle and feel empowered to make the necessary changes to be their best at work and in all aspects of life.
