SANITARY TOWELS IN THE WORKPLACE.
50% of employees in the country are either working remotely or staggering because of the current covid-19 pandemic. This is the new normal that everyone has gravitated to as a measure to stop the spread of the virus. Even though most businesses had come to a halt after the first case of Covud-19 had been reported in the country, the city is witnessing a shift whereby restaurants and other retail chains are opening up. Among the many basic aspects of life that should be provided when going back to work is sanitary towels. Employers need to start providing period products in the workplace as part of their diversity strategy.
350 million women around the globe, have their periods at any given day. Despite this, sanitary towels are the least thought of item at the workplace. This is also fuelled by the fact that many women cannot access them in a normal situation let alone in case of an emergency. Take my case for example. I was busy working on a report which was due in a few minutes. This timeline would coincide with a meeting with a top director in the office. I suddenly felt mild wetness. I ignored this as my irregular periods were not to show up, at least not for another two days. The wetness went from mild to severe in a few minutes. I quickly ran into panic mode. This panic is not because of the periods, but the inability to access a sanitary towel when I really needed one. I walked to a fellow female colleagues desk only to find that she lacked one. This would turn out to be a very emotional and draining day, just because I lacked a pad. Seems basic doesn’t it?
In a society whereby organisations have openly changed their policy in regards to gender and identification, sanitary towels should not be a point of discussion. Sanitary towels should not only be availed at work but organisations should ensure that employees are sensitized enough on the issue. Women should not feel weird or ashamed of a natural phenomenon of this nature. This can only happen when conversations around menses are had in the workplace. The conversations should include men, they are part of the workforce, right? When a sanitary towel dispenser just like a water dispenser is put up in the office. This will not only spread awareness but also boost the confidence of the women at work, as bandage would have been ripped concerning the issue. It will also save women from fear and the stigma that is period related.
“Women fear being seen as weak in the workplace, so say nothing about menstruation and any issues they might be having, tacitly reinforcing a view that we are less capable during our time of the month.” ~Emma Barnett,in her book Period:
Discreet and convenient menstrual waste disposal goes hand in hand with the providence of sanitary towels in the workplace. You cannot provide one and leave out the other its a package. Ok, I hear you, you are not aware of the preferred sanitary towel brands of your employees. Inquire! This is why we are doing this in the first place. The conversation on periods is no longer hushed hence one can easily ask the women at work to come up with two or more preferred brands that the organisation can purchase. Case closed.
To everyone who considers themselves a powerhouse in women empowerment, please take up this mantle as it is of dire need.
To cut the long story short, we are women who menstruate and are part of the workforce, cater to us.