68% of women will still report to work despite period pain: survey

Amongst the reasons behind this is period shaming.

About 68% of women said they will still report for work despite experiencing period pain with the fear of being judged or overlooked in the workplace, a survey by the period company, Blood, revealed.

Amongst those (44%) who take a time off regularly to deal with period pain, one in two (54%) would not tell their bosses the real reason for their absence to avoid ridicule or discrimination in the workplace.

Women said they would lie about taking time off due to period pain because 43% of them feel like they would not be believed if they called in sick due to period pains.

To address period shaming, which is being felt by three in four women in the workplace (76%), Blood launched “Period-Positive Workplaces,” which is an initiative designed to “encourage companies to create workplaces to better support women, and recognise those who have committed to championing the cause.”

Under the initiative, the company will be offering companies a complimentary digital playbook, and period pantry kits which include sanitary pads, liners, and MenstruHeat cramp relief patches.

The digital playbook seeks to address concerns about a menstrual period; these include one in three women not receiving enough empathy from their colleges in the workplace during tough periods.