Over half of British women say they would quit their job tomorrow to work at a company which lets them work from home while on their period.
While 84 per cent of women said they continue to work despite feeling unwell during their period, 70 per cent had workplaces that offered no menstrual or hormonal health support, according to a new study.
Of the 2,100 women surveyed, 86 per cent said they had reduced energy and focus owing to their menstrual cycle.
More than half said their mental wellbeing and stress levels were impacted during their period, while just under half reported that their productivity also declined.
While menstrual cycle symptoms vary greatly, many women experience physical symptoms such as abdominal cramps, backache, nausea, fatigue, bloating and headaches during their period.
More than half said their mental wellbeing and stress levels were impacted during their period
They can also experience mental side-effects throughout their menstrual cycle – including mood swings, anger and anxiety.
These are often because of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual tension (PMT) and occur before the period starts.
For women with menstrual conditions such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), these symptoms can be debilitating, causing some to have to miss work or school.
The new survey, carried out by healthy-eating platform Lifesum, found that 52 per cent of women would leave their workplace for a job that provided better menstrual health support at work.
And 72 per cent said they would like to see workplaces institute more flexible work arrangements.
‘This new data highlights why workplaces must address the unique health needs of their female employees,’ says Wesleigh Roeca, Lifesum’s workplace wellbeing director.
‘To create a more inclusive and supportive work environment, we encourage organisations to adopt a policy that offers flexible work hours, additional healthcare coverage, paid leave for conditions like menopause and endometriosis, and support for pregnancy and fertility challenges.’