Women don’t only make up half the world’s population but also half of the workforce. Thus, creating a period-friendly workplace is essential for companies that want their female employees to perform their best. Creating a period-friendly workplace also allows companies to earn greater trust and loyalty from their female staff.
But despite being a natural bodily function, discussing periods freely is considered taboo in some cultures and religions. If your workplace promotes diversity alongside gender equality, you can significantly benefit from learning the dos and don’ts of creating a period-friendly workplace. Read on to learn them:
The Dos of Creating a Period-Friendly Workplace
Ensure Enough Restrooms
The availability of clean restrooms is essential for all employees, regardless of gender. However, women often need restrooms more urgently than usual during their period. Therefore, a workplace can only become period-friendly when it offers enough restrooms for its female employees on every floor. The restrooms must also be accessible and near women’s desks.
Provide Free Period Products
Many women suffer from irregular periods. Women also experience a period without having any PMS symptoms. Therefore, a period-friendly workplace must offer free period products in the women’s restrooms. If not free, the company can install a period vending machine that charges a minimal amount.
Period products are expensive, and many women may struggle to afford them, even when working. The period products in the women’s restrooms must also be stocked daily and include various period products, including different-sized sanitary pads, tampons, and disposable underwear. The female bathrooms must also be well-stocked with toilet paper.
Offer Flexible Work Hours
Female employees can significantly benefit from flexible work hours. Most women suffer from unbearable pains and aches during their period. Thus, allowing them to work from home or shifts of their choice can greatly contribute to creating a period-friendly workplace.
The Don’ts of Creating a Period-Friendly Workplace
Offer Period Leave
Many women may not feel comfortable availing of period leave, which may include declaring their period dates to male supervisors. Women experiencing irregular periods may also face inappropriate questions from male colleagues. Thus, flexible hours or remote work options can save them from uncomfortable situations.
Lessen Work Load
While women suffer from aches and pains during their period, most do not like being patronized. If a woman faces unbearable pain during her period, she can request sick leave or paid day off instead. Assigning women less work than usual on their period may also make male employees feel discriminated against.
Make Assumptions
Every woman experiences menstrual periods differently. The symptoms of period vary from woman to woman, and even for every woman depending on several other factors. Moreover, every woman, like every individual, possesses a unique coping mechanism.
Therefore, assuming stereotypes about women’s periods and categorizing their experiences in one box is not helpful. To create a truly period-friendly workplace, asking female employees about their needs can do much more than providing facilities based on assumptions.
Lastly, educating male employees on how to react and not react upon witnessing period mishaps of female employees is also essential to creating a period-friendly workplace.
