Menstruation in the Office: How Employers Can Support Women at Work

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) published a report in 2023, based on a survey carried out on over 2,000 women aged 18-60 who are currently or have previously menstruated whilst in employment.

According to that report, 79% of those women have experienced menstruation related symptoms at work. 69% reported having symptoms that negatively impacted their work. Over half of the participants (53%), had to be absent from work at some point because of their period.

Hold on, this is where it gets interesting.

A whopping 49% of the respondents said they never tell their manager, boss or employer that their absence is due to menstrual health issues. Only 20% actually do.

In this report, most participants reported feeling more comfortable talking about their menstrual health problems with a trusted colleague rather than their employer. Sadly, 7% of these women recounted feeling discriminated against at their workplace because of menstrual symptoms.

Furthermore, more than 1 in 10 women (12%) say their menstrual symptoms have negatively impacted their career development.

Another study, carried out in the Netherlands among women aged 15 to 45, found that 13.8% of participants reported being absent from work or school during their periods, while 3.4% reported being absent every or almost every menstrual cycle. Only 20.1% openly told their employer or school that menstruation was the reason for their absence.

In 2024, a comprehensive survey involving 5,000 women from 10 different countries found that 40% of women experiencing painful periods choose to work through it and endure the pain, bringing to light a severe lack of support when it comes to menstruation related issues.

Honestly, the data goes on and on.

Menstruation is a normal part of life that workplaces have somehow chosen to ignore.

Only about 12% of organisations provide support for its female staff in relation to menstruation.

We think it's time to change that.

Femme Avenue has identified a gap in the industry. That's why we curated SheWellness, our corporate wellness packages designed to care for and support women in the workforce.

It presents a comprehensive Reproductive Health and Wellness program designed to support the wellbeing of women within any organization.

The SheWellness package provides structured, practical and culturally sensitive resources that aims to address Reproductive Health education, wellness support and capacity building for women across all sectors and industries.

SheWellness is not just another health programme. It is consistent and timely care for the women in your organisation day in, day out.

Our program is adaptable to organizations of any size and type, ensuring that women, whether staff, members, students, or customers have access to the knowledge, products and support they need to thrive.

Through SheWellness, Femme Avenue partners with forward-thinking organizations to create healthier, more inclusive and more productive environments for women.

By integrating the SheWellness program into your organization's existing initiatives, you're telling the industry that you care about your female staff, reinforcing your position as a leader in employee empowerment and inclusive organizational culture.

For enquiries and comments, please contact us via Support@femmeavenue.ng

Get on board with the SheWellness program today.