Menstrual and menopausal symptoms cause roughly 70 per cent of women to take time off work, according to a national survey published last week.
Forsa, Ireland’s second largest trade union, has called for workplaces to be more accommodating of those suffering from period or menopausal pain as a result of the survey’s findings.
“Remote working and other flexible work arrangements are key to a healthier, happier and more productive working life for many, many women,” Forsa's equality officer Ashley Connolly said in a statement.
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Many participants agreed that working from home during the pandemic helped alleviate menstrual cramps as they had easier access to pain relief and sanitary products. Respondents suffering from menopause also said that a lack of control over the office temperature worsened their symptoms.
Forsa's research also revealed that 65 per cent of women feel unable to discuss issues surrounding their reproductive health with their superiors.
The public service union has collectively agreed to encourage workplaces to introduce period and menopausal friendly policies for their staff. The motion was brought before the union’s national conference in Kilkenny last Friday.
A select few countries in the world currently grant menstrual leave, including nations such as South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Zambia.
The Spanish government has introduced a draft law that would provide individuals with three days of menstrual leave per month. The introduction of this draft into law would make Spain the first European authority to provide workers with reproductive related leave.
The draft law also proposes removing VAT from sanitary products in order to make pads and tampons more accessible for those experiencing period poverty.
Only 1 per cent of Irish employers currently provide their staff members with menstrual-related time off. Forsa recommends that companies give women the choice where possible to work from home while experiencing menstrual or menopausal symptoms.
Almost all of the 1,800 survey respondents said they would benefit from the introduction of a menstrual-related policy to their workplace.
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