How to support menstrual health in the workplace — and why it matters

Whether you run a medium-sized business, head up a small start-up or sit on the management team of a corporation with thousands of employees, there's one thing worth knowing: a workplace where women's health can be discussed openly doesn't just support your people, it also (proactively) reshapes traditional working culture. Want to know exactly how to make that happen? Read on and discover 4 simple ways to support the women you work with!
 

Menstrual health and hygiene – EVERYTHING you need to know

Menstrual health and hygiene are now key factors in women's wellbeing and autonomy. Studies show that of the 1.9 billion women menstruating worldwide, more than 500 million have no access to period products or adequate sanitation facilities. Yes, period poverty affects a huge proportion of the global population – and it's happening in your workplace too.

Inform and raise awareness

Even if it seems like an awkward subject at first glance, open conversations about menstrual health are essential to fostering an inclusive working environment. And if you're not sure how to go about it, here are a few straightforward ideas:

• Set up an internal newsletter, a Slack channel or a Skype group (whichever communication channels you already use with your colleagues), or schedule regular meetings to create a safe space where the women in your organisation can talk about reproductive health issues and how these affect their working lives.
• Invite specialists (doctors, psychologists) to run an educational seminar or Q&A session for your team on menstruation, the menopause, fertility or gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis or PMDD. PS: we spoke to a psychotherapist about mental health and the menstrual cycle – you can read that article here.
• Follow the ENROUSH blog and newsletter to learn more about women's health. And by the way, our content is for everyone – men and women alike – because health is a human right and we should all know (more) about menstruation.

Offer a day of special leave

Menstrual leave is still something of a taboo subject. What does it actually mean? Essentially, it's paid sick leave that allows people who menstruate one day a month to cope with severe period symptoms. That might sound impossible or radical, but it's hardly a new practice. In some countries, menstrual leave is entirely normal. In 2022 the Spanish government passed a bill granting paid sick leave to women experiencing severe period pain, making Spain the first European country to put forward such legislation. You can read more about this in our article on how to talk about periods at work!

A 2019 study published in the British Medical Journal found that period pain accounts for an average of nine lost days of productivity per year. More than 80% of respondents said they had carried on working or studying despite their symptoms – and had been less productive as a result. Sound familiar? It did to us too…

For women living with chronic conditions such as endometriosis or PMDD, periods can become an ever-greater burden, both physically and emotionally. Acknowledging biological differences in the workplace therefore doesn't mean labelling women as weaker; it means recognising that some people experience symptoms that disrupt their daily lives – and that the pain is real. Women's health has been neglected in our society for far too long, but it's not too late to change things: it all starts with an inclusive workplace. And if, as an employer, you know that your employees' productivity suffers because of menstruation, it's your responsibility to create opportunities for rest and recovery for those affected. It's down to you and your team!

Provide free period products

This one rather goes without saying, doesn't it? Offering benefits to your employees is an excellent way of showing that you want to invest in their wellbeing.

Free massages, Friday afternoon drinks, meal vouchers – all of these are welcome. But if you want to stay one step ahead and be genuinely progressive, a well-considered benefits package should also include specific provision for menstrual health. 

Providing free period products shows that, as an employer, you take an active interest in your employees' health and that you recognise access to period products as a fundamental human right. Many people can't afford period products and miss school or work as a result. Having free pads or tampons available at work takes away the anxiety of being caught unprepared – particularly when your period arrives unexpectedly. 

So if you'd like to stock your office toilets with period products, make sure you choose products with nothing to hide, made from 100% organic cotton. On top of that, ENROUSH offers subscriptions tailored to your specific needs, with significant discounts when you buy in larger quantities.

We launched the ENROUSH workplace initiative in the hope of encouraging as many companies as possible to adopt this positive stance in support of women's health. So how does it work in practice?

• Get in touch with a member of our team and tell us what your office needs. You'll receive a bespoke quote.
• Once you've placed your order, we deliver everything directly to your workplace. You don't need to worry about the dispensers either – we handle the entire washroom set-up.
• When supplies start running low, we'll top them up – or simply get in touch whenever you need more!

Raising certain topics in a professional setting may seem taboo or inappropriate – but is it really? In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated just how necessary and important it is to support women when it comes to their menstrual health. What's more, we firmly believe that women's health should be an integral part of every modern company's inclusion strategy.

Acknowledging the concerns of the women on your team is an important step towards a more modern, healthier workplace: you'll not only boost their productivity, you'll also make a genuine difference in the jobs market by showing that you care about your people.

Enroush offers you:

Organic tampons
ENROUSH tampons are easy to use, designed to absorb flow evenly across their entire surface, and contain nothing but 100% organic cotton – no other additives.

Organic pads
Individually wrapped, easy to store and carry, ENROUSH pads are made from 100% organic cotton and exclusively natural, plant-based fibres. They contain no fragrances and no bleaching agents, minimising the risk of irritation or allergies.

Natural period heat patches
How do heat patches work on period pain? Thanks to activated charcoal and 100% natural ingredients, they warm up quickly and can deliver up to 8 hours of therapeutic heat. And if you'd rather steer clear of painkillers and old-fashioned home remedies for period pain, the patches are one of the simplest solutions to those monthly cramps.

Intimate gel with 95% natural ingredients
A NEW, innovative product developed together with gynaecologists and dermatologists, with 95% natural ingredients that help prevent Candida infections. 
It provides intense hydration, leaves skin soft and is also ANTIBACTERIAL and ANTISEPTIC. 
It protects the vulva by preventing infections, redness and itching, and reduces the risk of infection thanks to Tribulus terrestris extract – with 87% EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST CANDIDA.