Menstrual Health and Menopause

At Manchester Community Central, we’re leading the way in creating a workplace that actively supports people through menopause and menstrual health, ensuring inclusivity and support for everyone.

Two-thirds of individuals report that their work is negatively impacted by menstrual symptoms, with 61% admitting they go to work despite not feeling well enough. Half of people who menstruate report encountering workplace stigma, leading 87% of people who menstruate to feel compelled to lie to their manager about the reason for taking sick days.

A significant portion of working women (73%) experience symptoms related to menopause transition. Two-thirds (67%) of women with menopausal symptoms report a mostly negative impact on their work. Around 20% of women have considered leaving work due to a lack of support related to menopause symptoms, with 6% having actually left.

To support people going through their menopause and menstrual health, Macc has:  

• Introduced Menstrual Health and Menopause policies
• Held staff and line manager training with Henpicked and Manchester Mind
• Appointed Menstrual Health and Menopause Champions to support Macc staff and to ensure this support is kept on the agenda
• Made sustainable and ethical period products available in all bathrooms provided by Grace and Green. We are now Period Dignity Partners, thank you to the partnership we have with Grace and Green.  
• Began influencing wider employment policies (to read our submission of evidence the link is below)
• Delivered a workshop to 40+ VCSE organisation on how they can implement Menstrual Health Support in May 2025 (Link is below to watch it)

We will continue to discuss hormonal health in our workplace and encourage other organisations to do the same. Below we have be shared our work, findings and useful templates with the VCSE sector to help more organisations support their employees through menopause and menstrual health.

In aid of Endometriosis Awareness Month, Anushka and Jessica have written an article that really emphasises the life changing difficulties that people go through with endometriosis: Endometriosis: The Long Road to Diagnosis, a Burdensome Process. 

Just One Thing Interview: ‘Why Menopause is Everyone’s Issue’; An Interview with Sally Bolton, Sally Bolton is the founder of SB Wellbeing, a health and fitness coaching programme that specialises in menopause wellness. She is the author of ‘The Menopause Lifestyle Project’ and is also a licensed workplace trainer, giving menopause training to organisations and workforces. 

Jessica Draper and Anushka Swannell interviewed Sally Bolton to raise awareness on menopause. To listen to the interview follow this link. To read the interview please follow this link. 

In January 2025, the Menstrual Health and Menopause Champions submitted a Written Submission to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee: Employment Rights Bill 2024/25 titled Advocating for Inclusive Workplace Policies to Address Menstrual Health Challenges. 

Key findings of the submission include:  

• Workplace Impact of Menstrual Health: Menstrual symptoms negatively affect two-thirds of menstruating employees, with half experiencing stigma. This results in lost productivity, reduced well-being, and workplace inequities.  
• Policy Gaps: Current UK provisions lack statutory menstrual leave, flexible working accommodations, and adequate protection against harassment, disproportionately affecting part-time and low-income workers.  
• Global Lessons: Countries like Japan and Spain demonstrate the benefits of paid menstrual leave and workplace education, while also highlighting implementation challenges such as stigma and limited policy uptake.  
• Macc’s Model: Macc’s holistic Menstrual Health Policy, introduced in 2024, provides a blueprint for national reforms. Its focus on education and targeted support has demonstrably improved inclusivity, staff retention, and wellbeing.

Key recommendations include:

• Include Menstrual Health in Equality Duties: Expand employer responsibilities under Section 78(A) to explicitly include menstrual health.
• Introduce National Menstrual Health at Work Policy: Develop a comprehensive policy integrating education, awareness and targeted support for menstrual health.
• Enhance Protection from Harassment: Mandate workplace training to combat stigma and discrimination related to menstrual health. Strengthen enforcement measures against harassment.
• Support Flexible Working Rights: Recognise menstrual health as a valid reason for requesting flexible working arrangements. Provide clear guidance for managers.
• Reform Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Eliminate the three-day waiting period for SSP eligibility for menstrual health-related absences. Ensure SSP accessibility for all workers.
• Expand Entitlement to Leave: Include menstrual health symptoms and conditions in statutory medical leave entitlements.

Menstrual Health Support in the VCSE Workplace - Toolkit

Menstrual health is a vital part of workplace wellbeing—but it’s often overlooked, especially in smaller organisations. At Macc, we believe that creating supportive, inclusive policies around menstrual and menopausal health is both achievable and essential within the VCSE sector.

We’ve developed practical guidance based on our own journey of implementing menstrual health support at work. Whether you're just starting to think about this or ready to put policies in place, this toolkit offers real-world insights, policy examples, and simple steps to get started.

View the Menstrual Health Support in the Workplace toolkit by clicking here

View the Menstrual Health VCSE Workplace Policy Template here

View the Menopause Support in the Workplace toolkit by clicking here

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View the Written Submission by Macc to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee: Employment Rights Bill 2024/25 Advocating for Inclusive Workplace Policies to Address Menstrual Health Challenges here

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Recording of a webinar on: Implementing Menstrual Health Support in the VCSE Sector: Insights from Macc’s Journey

Opportunities:

Public Opinion & Knowledge on Period Product Safety Survey:

At Manchester Community Central, we’ve been working on a dedicated project focused on menstrual health for the past 18 months. As part of this ongoing work, we’re conducting a survey to better understand the knowledge, experiences, and opinions of women and people who menstruate, particularly around the safety and regulation of menstrual products.

Your input will help shape more informed, inclusive, and effective health policies that prioritise menstrual well-being.

Get involved

Please do get in touch with Anushka anushka@macc.org.uk if you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can collaborate. For more information and resources visit the GM Workforce Hub.