Community Launches Supporting Her Together Campaign

Community has officially launched the Supporting Her Together campaign, which is encouraging better conversations around menstrual and fertility health at work.

We believe a supportive workplace starts with inclusive and accommodating policies and that is why we are asking employers to sign up to our Women’s Reproductive Health Charter.

While health issues relating to menstruation, hormonal conditions and fertility affect a substantial proportion of the workforce, employers often provide little to no targeted support.

Employers who sign up to the Charter commit to implementing policies covering menstrual health, menopause, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, and reproductive related medical leave.

They also agree to the provision of free period products for staff, reproductive health training and flexible working arrangements.

To facilitate our campaign, and better understand the experiences of our members, we sent out a survey, which was completed by more than 1,200 people.

The results showed substantial gaps in workplace policy, training, and support for women who experience reproductive health issues.

It also found that 84% of women think their workplace should have a menstruation friendly policy.

Survey results

• A large proportion of respondents (84%) believed their workplace should have a menstruation friendly policy. 14% said they were unsure and 2% said they didn’t want one.
• Almost 70% (69%) said they had experienced severe pain and discomfort at work because of menstrual health issues and 65% said such issues had impacted their ability to perform their job to the best of their ability.
• 39% of respondents said they had taken time off work over the past two years due to menstrual health issues. 26% of respondents took between one to five days off work, 5% took between one to two weeks off work, and 8% said they had taken more than two weeks off.
• Of those who had taken time off from work, 65% did not tell their employer the reason behind their absence and this was most commonly due to embarrassment (34%) or perceived lack of organisational support (46%).
• Respondents expressed a strong desire for improved workplace support and 64% said they would like recognised absence for menstrual health.
• Almost half of respondents (47%) said they would like wider access to free period products and 45 % of respondents said they had been ‘caught out’ at work without any period products.
• 6% said their workplace had a menstruation friendly policy and 57% of respondents admitted they were unsure as to whether such a policy existed. 37% said their workplace didn’t have a policy.

Community’s Head of Equalities Jennifer Dean said:

“Many women experience reproductive health issues that have a significant impact on their wellbeing, confidence and working lives.

“These issues are more common than many people realise. Too often women feel they have to manage them in silence or without the understanding and support they need at work.

“By signing up to our Women’s Reproductive Health Charter, employers are recognising that reproductive health is an equality issue, not a personal burden for women to carry alone.

“It is about creating workplaces where normal life experiences are understood, conversations can happen without stigma, and everyone can access the support they need to fully participate in working life.”

Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:

“Community’s research clearly shows that women’s reproductive health issues are common, yet workplace support too often falls short.

“Our findings reveal that almost 70% of women have experienced severe pain and discomfort at work, but many are doing so in workplaces that lack the policies, understanding and practical support needed to respond effectively.

“With so many women affected, the case for better workplace support is undeniable, and employers must take action to ensure no one is disadvantaged because of their reproductive health.

“Through our Supporting Her Together campaign, we’re encouraging employers to take practical action and create workplace cultures where women feel able to talk openly about reproductive health without fear of stigma. When employers put the right policies and support in place they create fairer, more inclusive workplaces that benefit everyone.”