Leading employers helping end taboo around menstrual health during Endometriosis Action Month

• Most younger women would feel concerned disclosing menstrual ill health at work
• But many Brits increasingly happy to discuss health at work, poll shows
• Standard Life, Mitie, Severn Trent Water and more than 15 police forces have signed up to Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme

Many women say they would be concerned about discussing menstrual health issues with their employers, even as the country as a whole has become more open with colleagues about their health, new data shows.

The charity Endometriosis UK, which is currently marking Endometriosis Action Month (March 2022) says that the polling shows the importance of employers understanding endometriosis and breaking the taboo about the disease.

Endometriosis is a common, sometimes debilitating but often-ignored gynaecological disease affecting 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth from puberty to menopause, and the impact may be felt for life. As well as chronic pelvic pain and painful periods, symptoms include pain during or after sex, painful bowel movements or pain when urinating, difficulty getting pregnant and fatigue. Those with the condition often have their symptoms dismissed or ignored, and it takes an average of eight years to get a diagnosis in the UK, a figure that hasn’t changed in a decade.

A nationally-representative poll of more than 2,000 people conducted by Censuswide shows:

• 60% of women aged 16-24 and 56% of those aged 25-34 would be concerned discussing the condition with their employer if they were taking time off due to painful periods and chronic pelvic pain
• Across all age groups, 47% of all women said that that would be a concern, while 39% said ‘no’ and 14% answered ‘not sure’
• When asked about taking time off for a generic health condition, with the question not mentioning periods, the figure drops to 40% of women and 35% of men
• This is despite a shift towards more openness around health at work - 46% of Brits saying that Covid-19 has meant they are now more likely to discuss their health and wellbeing openly at work. Only 5% said they were less likely (49% said ‘no change’)

Since it was launched in 2019, the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme has been joined by over 80 public, private and non-profit organisations of all sizes. These employers commit to developing a work environment and culture that enable employees with endometriosis to thrive at work.

Among them are water company Severn Trent. Neil Morrison, HR Director, Severn Trent Plc, said: "As conversations surrounding endometriosis have ramped up both within our business and across wider society, we've begu​n to notice just how many of our colleagues are actually affected, whether directly or through their family or friends.

"We have a duty of care to make sure everyone is aware of the condition and understands the impact it may have on colleagues, particularly during the working day. We're proud to have signed up to the Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme to offer the best support possible to those affected and have put together a guide for colleagues to refer to, hosted an internal podcast and started conversations to help break down the taboo around endometriosis and menstrual health."

Sim Sian, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at another member of the scheme, Mitie, said: “As one of Britain’s biggest employers, we’re committed to creating a company culture where everyone can thrive. With endometriosis and other menstrual health issues affecting many of our colleagues, we are proud to be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer and helping to break taboos around discussing these conditions in the workplace. Through our dedicated Managers’ Guide, we are educating and highlighting the support available, as well as encouraging a wider conversation about women’s health issues and the impact they may have on our colleagues’ lives.”

Emma Cox, CEO, Endometriosis UK, said: “I’m delighted that such a diverse range of organisations have already joined the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme and are tackling taboos around menstrual health and endometriosis every day. By showing their employees they are valued and can expect support and reasonable adjustments to help those with endometriosis and menstrual conditions succeed at work, these companies are likely to have a more engaged workforce and more effective staff.

“It’s great that more of us are happy to discuss health and wellbeing at work having lived through the challenges that Covid-19 brought. But I worry that those with endometriosis might not benefit from these changes due to the long-standing stigma around periods and menstrual health. Companies tackling that taboo are taking a great step forward for their staff, organisation, and society.”

Notes to editors
For further information, including requests for interviews with Emma Cox or those living with endometriosis, please contact us on communications@endometriosis-uk.org

About endometriosis
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other places – most commonly elsewhere in the pelvic cavity. These cells react in the same way to those in the womb during the menstrual cycle, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells from the womb which leave the body as a period, this blood cannot escape. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.

According to 2020 research by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis, the average time with symptoms to diagnosis in the UK is eight years, and once diagnosed only 19% are seen in an endometriosis specialist centre.

Endometriosis Action Month
For a number of years, March has been Endometriosis Awareness Month. While this has been a successful initiative, allowing us to reach new audiences and spread knowledge about the challenges of living with endometriosis, we know that awareness only goes so far.

What those with endometriosis need and deserve is tangible action and positive changes which improve their wellbeing. That’s why we’ve decided that March 2022 will be Endometriosis Action Month. Find out more here.

If you were taking time off work because of a health condition which was causing painful periods and chronic pelvic pain, would you feel concerned about discussing that condition with your employer? (1,368 women)

If you were taking time off work because of a health condition, would you feel concerned about discussing that condition with your employer? (1,202 men and women in work)

[differs from question above as symptoms not mentioned]

How, if at all, has living through Covid-19 changed the way you talk about your health and wellbeing at work and with colleagues? (1,202 men and women in work)

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash