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Only 16% of women receive workplace support for menstrual symptoms, study finds

The study from Heriot-Watt University showed that 42% took time off because of symptoms, but many worked through them instead.

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Half of women are affected by menstrual symptoms at work, while just 16% receive any support from their employer, a study led by the Autonomy Institute and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Caucus (EDICa) at Heriot-Watt University found.

The poll showed 80% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 73% of 25 to 34-year-olds reported menstrual symptoms at work.

50% of women said menstrual symptoms affected them at work in the past year, while 39% reported perimenopause or menopause symptoms. 

42% took time off because of symptoms, but many worked through them instead. 

77% worked through symptoms at least one day in the last year, with 44% doing so on more than 10 days.

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Professor Kate Sang, principal investigator of EDICa at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Women’s health has long been neglected, with women suffering often unnecessarily. 

“This research shows the negative impact ignoring menstrual health has on women, but also their employers and the wider economy. 

“Urgent, evidence based, action is required to enable women to thrive at work, benefitting women’s health and well-being and the national economy.”

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Dr Will Stronge, chief executive at the Autonomy Institute, said: “Half of female employees are being affected by menstrual or menopausal symptoms at work – and the vast majority are simply working through it, unsupported. 

“The costs are borne quietly: in lost productivity, in retention, and disproportionately by younger workers and women of colour. These are not niche concerns. 

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“These are mainstream labour market issues, and the gap between what employees need and what employers provide is striking.”

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Stronge added: “The solutions are not complicated or expensive – flexible working, manager training, a formal policy. What’s missing is the will to act.”

28% have considered leaving their current job because of menstrual or perimenopausal symptoms, rising among workers in their 30s and 40s and among Black and mixed-ethnicity respondents. 

Asian and Black respondents reported higher rates of menstrual symptoms affecting work than White respondents.

Respondents said practical, low-cost measures would help them work at their best, including flexible working, manager understanding, hybrid or home working, free period products, access to a rest space, a formal policy and additional sick leave.

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The report recommended employers to adopt a clear menstrual health and menopause policy, make line-manager training standard practice, treat presenteeism as a workforce risk, make flexible and hybrid working the default where roles allow, and provide free period products and rest spaces. 

It also called on the UK Government to publish a statutory Acas Code of Practice on menstrual and menopausal health at work, recognise menopause and severe menstrual health conditions under the Equality Act 2010, and extend free period product provision to all workplaces with more than 50 employees.

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