Vast Majority Feel ‘Anxious’ About Getting Their Period At Work – & That Needs To Change

We’ve all been there.

The surprise, the panic, the awkward shuffle back to the office to ask if anyone has a tampon.

Or, god forbid, the awkward shuffle back to the office to say nothing because you’re too embarrassed to ask for a period product.

Trackers and app are all the rage these days, but that doesn’t mean that our periods can’t still surprise us… when we least expect it.

And while some businesses and public spaces have gotten better at supplying pads and tampons for those who need them, availing of a period product out and about still isn’t even half as easy as it should be.

This lack of availability isn’t just frustrating, it can also be quite stressful and anxiety inducing – especially in the workplace.

In fact, 85% of people have experienced stress or anxiety when managing their period at work, and 79% have said that they don’t feel supported when having their period in work.

New research conducted by Riley has shown that the vast majority of people who get periods are still struggling.

The study showed that 86% of people have started their period at work unexpectedly without supplies, and that 79% were forced to use toilet paper or other materials as a makeshift pad.

Just over one in 10 people even said that their period has had an impact on their career progression.

Riley recently launched their ‘just a tampon’ campaign, a new London-based initiative aiming to take the fear out of periods at work “by making every office a period positive workplace.”

“Access to safe and high-quality sustainable period care products not only demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare but also fosters a culture of empathy, equality, and respect, ultimately contributing to a more engaged and empowered workforce,” Fiona Parfrey, Co-Founder of Riley says.

“Menstrual policies and free period care are not just a “nice to have” but a fundamental necessity for every individual in the workplace. It’s about ensuring that employees have the resources they need to maintain their well-being and productivity without interruption.

“We are immensely proud of our community of 200+ corporate partners for partnering with us as we strive towards creating workplace environments that are supportive, inclusive, and period-positive.”

Riley already works with over 250 Irish companies, and are now hoping to bring their positive period awareness to the UK.

To do this, they placed posters in some of the Tube’s busiest stations, to start a conversation about periods, and to remind commuters that it’s “just a tampon” – excellent.

• Periods