Inclusive Workplace Practices: Supporting Employees During Their Periods

 

Women think about everyone before themselves. In a world where most men are handed everything on a silver platter, women have to work for it, break through the societal stigma, and work 10 times harder than men to prove their value. While we strive for diversity and equality, the situation for modern women in workplaces hasn’t become better than it was earlier. Forget about menstrual leaves, women sometimes don’t have the right facilities and amenities like female sanitary cups in their workplace to manage their periods.

Why such ignorance? When menstruation is a normal bodily phenomenon experienced by half of the population, why awareness to address this physiological process and make situations more comfortable for women is still a distant dream? The answer is stigma. People aren’t supposed to talk about periods, let alone take the necessary steps to make working conditions better for menstruating women. However, if you want to foster a culture of equality and make things different, here’s a guide on supporting employees during their periods and creating an inclusive workplace.

Understanding Menstrual Challenges

To support employees effectively, it's essential to first understand the menstrual challenges they may encounter. Menstrual symptoms vary from person to person, but common issues include pain, fatigue, mood swings, and discomfort. If you want to create a more inclusive workplace, the key is to acknowledge these challenges and appreciate how women handle everything resiliently without any leverage or sometimes even compassion from others.

Flexible Work Arrangements

One of the most effective ways to support employees during their periods is by offering flexible work arrangements. This can include allowing employees to work from home when needed or providing flexible hours. By promoting flexible work arrangements, you don’t just reduce the stress of women commuting during uncomfortable times but you also enable them to manage their workloads more effectively during that time of the month.

Menstrual Leave Policies

Many progressive companies are introducing menstrual leave policies to grant employees paid or unpaid leave once in a while to manage their menstrual symptoms without using their regular sick leave. If you start menstrual leave policies in your office, you recognize menstruation as a legitimate health concern, destigmatizing it in your workplace.

Access to Period Products

The biggest upsides of using a menstrual cup is it is reusable. Women can store it and be ready for their next cycle whenever they have to. However at times when they don't have their period cups with them at work managing their periods can be daunting. Providing easy access to period products can be an excellent way to support female employees during their periods. It can demonstrate that the company cares about its employees' well-being and promotes their hygiene and comfort while they are on their periods.

Conclusion

Change begins one step at a time. You might not be able to figure out everything at once or order menstrual cups online for all the female employees in your office. All you have to do is be more compassionate for women who pave the way for a new life, who go through the cramps, mood swings, and all of it while doing their best at work.