Half of women would quit jobs over lack of menstrual health support

“Understanding how nutrition impacts our hormonal health is crucial for women and organizations,” said Wesleigh Roeca, workplace wellbeing director for Lifesum, a healthy eating app. “Our hormones affect nearly every aspect of our wellbeing — mood, hunger, energy and fertility. Prioritizing nutrition in this context is vital, and it is essential for employers to recognize and address how nutrition impacts menstrual health to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.”

The survey also revealed that menstrual cycles affect various aspects of work. Overall energy and focus are most affected, with 86% of respondents noting a decline. Mental wellbeing (57%), stress levels (53%) and productivity (49%) also are significantly affected.

Seven in 10 of those surveyed reported that their workplaces do not offer any support for menstrual or hormonal health, such as flexible work hours, educational resources or free menstrual products. Furthermore, 84% of respondents admitted to continuing work despite feeling unwell from menstrual symptoms, highlighting a need for more supportive workplace environments.

“This new data highlights why workplaces must address the unique health needs of their female employees,” Roeca said. “To create a more inclusive and supportive work environment, we encourage organizations to adopt a ‘hold her health’ policy that offers flexible work hours, additional health-care coverage, paid leave for conditions like menopause and endometriosis, and support for pregnancy and fertility challenges. It also includes options for job-sharing or reduced hours without penalties and educational resources.”

In terms of desired support measures, 72% of respondents expressed interest in flexible work arrangements, 60% would like designated leave days for menstrual and hormonal health, 56% call for free sanitary products and 30% would like access to wellness apps.

“Employers have a critical role to play in creating environments where women can thrive both physically and mentally,” Roeca said. The fact that 70% of workplaces are not addressing these needs is a missed opportunity, not only for improving employee wellbeing but also for boosting productivity and job satisfaction. It’s time for companies to listen and take action on what is clearly a growing demand for change.”