Real Relief is now a certified Period Positive Workplace and coalition member.
Women represent nearly half of the global labor market and on any given day over 800 million people worldwide are menstruating. However, studies show that 96% of women who start their period unexpectedly in public leave to buy period products, 4 out of 10 people who menstruate have called in sick due to periods, over 80% of women experience a loss of productivity while at work for multiple days each cycle and on average women lose 9 days of work a year due to menstruation. This is a lot of missed time at work for nearly half the global labor market.
The Period Positive Workplace (PPW) initiative arose to address this. A global coalition has been formed with Days for Girls, PSI Europe, The Policy Project, The Pad Project, Share the Dignity, and the Toilet Board Coalition to advance menstrual equity in the workplace. And now, Real Relief is proud to be the latest certified member.
Research shows that workplaces that provide period products report reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and higher collaboration from employees who menstruate, with companies that provide menstrual leave see an increase in attraction, retention, and productivity. Global studies also show companies that invest in menstrual health management see benefits worth more than double the cost because of decreased absenteeism and higher retention.
In the same way that all employees need toilet paper and soap to manage their daily hygiene needs, some employees also need menstrual products to manage their daily hygiene needs, and when millions of people miss work because they experience period poverty, offering period products in all workplace bathrooms just makes sense. No one can be productive when their basic human needs aren’t met.
At Real Relief, we produce and sell Gopad; the world’s first bio-transformative menstrual pad. Gopad provides the same comfort and protection as traditional disposable pads but with the groundbreaking ability to naturally decompose if it ends up in nature or a landfill. We can supply our period products worldwide, and welcome are open to discussing how our products can serve your teams needs and support your journey to becoming a Period Positive Workplace yourself.
The Period Positive Workplace initiative plays a crucial role in helping businesses demonstrate their commitment to gender equality. Businesses who join this initiative take tangible steps towards breaking the stigma surrounding periods and promoting menstrual equity in the workplace.
Your workplace can join this global initiative to become Period Positive by:
1. Provide period products in or near bathrooms (products can be free, subsidized, or for purchase)
2. Meet WHO's Global Water, Sanitation & Hygiene standards
3. Notify employees via a formal notice (e.g., updating your employee benefits or HR handbook, sending an email, holding a staff meeting, etc.) that period products are and will continue to be provided
4. Head to www.periodpositiveworkplace.org and fill out the request certification form
5. You will be sent a Period Positive Workplace Partner Package with toolkits for your workplace to use
Period Positive Workplace is helping workplaces create gender equitable spaces. As Diana Nelson, the Global Advocacy Director for Days for Girls, explains, "Shifting the negative societal attitude towards periods is crucial, and workplaces can play a significant role in this transformation. By providing access to menstrual products and education about menstrual health, we can help remove the negative stereotypes and foster an environment that is supportive and inclusive for all employees.” By following these steps, companies can foster more inclusive and gender equitable workplaces.
Join businesses around the world to break the stigma surrounding periods and create more inclusive and gender equitable workplaces.