AnalogFolk has launched a global period policy to provide flexibility and support for staff during menstruation.
The creative agency’s new guidelines are now effective in its offices in London, Amsterdam, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney.
The policy sets out a number of measures to help female staff with their menstrual and menopausal health. This includes a day’s paid leave every month when needed in addition to employees’ annual leave and sick leave entitlement, as well as free period products, hot water bottles and private office space for stretching.
The company has 300 employees including 184 in the UK, of whom 54% are female. It introduced the policy to reduce anxiety and stress among those experiencing symptoms. It also wanted to promote a more inclusive and open culture. It does not expect those suffering from menstrual pain to work if they are not well enough to do so.
According to UK charity Bloody Good Period, menstrual pain is a key cause of absenteeism among women, with one in five missing work or school for this reason. A survey by YouGov further found that nearly one in four (37%) of females believe period pain has a negative impact on their productivity at work.
Anna-Louise Gladwell, AnalogFolk’s managing director, said: “The statistics underscore the importance of providing support and flexibility for employees who experience menstrual symptoms. We believe this, along with normalising conversations about periods, is long overdue. We also recognise the desire for discretion, and that menstrual cycles are unique for everyone. We are encouraging other companies to consider implementing similar policies to create more inclusive and supportive work environments – we’ve made our period policy open-source so other companies can adopt or adapt it.”
A range of bold posters have been designed ot help AnalogFolk raise awareness of the policy among its workforce. The initiative is part of a range of new policies implemented by AnalogFolk Group in the past year to establish a more equitable workplace for staff. Others include a menopause policy, family forming policy, divorce and separation policy and temporary ‘Working from Anywhere’ policy.
Gladwell added: “Our policies serve as a reminder that actions, not just words, are necessary for progress. We uphold our values by building policies into our business that promote diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing and by creating work with our clients that challenges norms and creates positive change for all. Our policies are defined by the areas we know that our folk need support and by being an employer that is understanding and empathetic.”
