May 12, 2024 23:00:00

It turns out that most women who feel unwell during menstruation are unable to honestly tell their workplace why

Dysmenorrhea , which causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, anemia, nausea, and moodiness during menstruation, is a serious problem for many women. However, a survey conducted in Australia revealed that most female workers and students who suffer from dysmenorrhea are unable to honestly explain the reason.

How periods impact us | QUT ePrints
https://eprints.qut.edu.au/245475/

Half of our colleagues suffer pain and discomfort from periods of time, but they're still a taboo subject at work.
https://theconversation.com/half-our-colleagues-suffer-pain-and-discomfort-from-periods-but-theyre-still-a-taboo-subject-at-work-226913

If you feel unwell at work, you may be able to tell your boss right away if the cause is gastrointestinal pain or fever, but many people find it difficult to honestly report if it is related to menstruation. In a survey of 247 menstruating students and workers conducted by Ruth Knight , a researcher at the Queensland University of Technology, it was found that only 6.7% of people who left work early or worked remotely because of menstrual problems honestly told their employers the reason.

This doesn't mean that women's periods aren't heavy: in fact, 87% of those surveyed felt that their period often interfered with their work or studies.

Respondents said things like, 'I sometimes had to say I was feeling sick and needed to work near a toilet, which made everyone think I had stomach problems,' and 'I live with chronic pain, so I feel embarrassed to use it as an excuse to take time off work.'

While talking about menstruation and its symptoms remains taboo in many workplaces, there has been a growing movement in recent years to make the workplace more comfortable for menstruating people. Victorian government officials in Australia gained five extra days of sick leave for people with menstrual pain or menopausal symptoms as part of an enterprise bargaining agreement negotiation. Various private companies have also started to introduce policies encouraging people to take time off for dysmenorrhea.

In addition, Melbourne City Council, Griffith University, Monash University, and others are taking steps to provide free napkins and tampons. In a survey by Knight et al., 84.6% of employees responded that 'having access to free sanitary products makes them feel that their workplace cares about them and makes them less likely to quit their job due to menstruation.'

Knight and her colleagues argue that to create an inclusive workplace for people who menstruate, companies should pay attention to the following:

1. Recognize the effects of menstruation
In a study conducted by Knight and colleagues, 94% of women who menstruated regularly reported physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, 82% reported back pain, and 82% reported headaches during their period. Mental symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, depression, and irritability were also reported.

'My stomach pains are so bad I feel like I'm going to throw up, I can't stand up straight and I hate leaving the house,' one respondent said, while another said, 'My period increases my anxiety levels in the classroom, at work and in all other situations. I get so anxious during class or at work that I can't concentrate.'

To avoid being embarrassed or discriminated against, some people who are menstruating may try to hide their symptoms, but it has also been

reported that employees who hide their menstrual symptoms at work are less productive and less engaged. Therefore, Knight et al. said, 'By empathizing with people who are affected by menstruation in various ways, organizations can support and empower them to take care of their menstrual health.'

2: Make your boss inclusive
Inclusive people treat menstruation as an important issue of fairness and human rights for individuals and organizations, and recognize the need to support people who menstruate. Having such a person as a manager at work can help create a workplace where menstruating people feel safe and respected, and may provide free menstrual products and flexible working arrangements during menstruation.

3. Don't make discussing menstruation taboo
One of the issues surrounding menstruation is that people tend to hide their symptoms for fear of being exposed to social discrimination and stigma. To make the workplace a more fair and inclusive place, it is important to create an environment where people can talk openly and honestly about menstruation and learn about how it affects employees.