Employee Benefits poll: More than three-quarters (78.1%) of organisations offer free period products to staff, according to an online survey among Employee Benefits readers.
Meanwhile, 7.7% said that while they do not currently offer free period products, they were considering it, whereas 14.2% did not provide, or intend to provide, any at all.
Last month, Employee Benefits reported that coffee chain Starbucks UK introduced free period products at work for its UK employees, through a partnership with sustainable period care brand Time Of The Month, which focuses on breaking down the stigma and shame that surrounds menstruation, helping to end period poverty and alleviating anxiety about working during a period.
A team of seven members of the Starbucks’ Women’s Impact Network presented the idea to senior leadership as part of wider work to normalise and improve period dignity in the workplace.
Holly Clarke, chair of Starbucks Women’s Impact Network EMEA, said: “The difference that providing free sanitary products can make to our partner’s experience at work is staggering, helping to improve accessibility for all and remove anxieties we know many people face around periods, especially when at work. We’d love to see others in the industry take a similar stance and work towards eradicating period poverty across the UK.”
Take part in our next poll: What did your organisation do to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day this year?