The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published its first workplace guideline on menstruation and menopause.
Titled ISO 45010, the guidelines provide employers with practical recommendations to support employees’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
ISO 45010 builds on international research from the British Standards Institution (BSI), which surveyed nearly 6,500 women across seven countries, and found that 68% want more support from their employers, while 70% want clear workplace protocols for menstruation and menopause. Most respondents had never heard their employer discuss menopause, while 1.8 billion menstruate each month without clear office guidelines.
“ISO 45010 provides internationally agreed recommendations to help organizations better understand the factors that can affect employees experiencing menstruation and menopause, and identify practical actions to support them,” said ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica.
The global guidelines provide educational background on menstruation and menopause, workplace policies, referrals to expert sources, and tools for building a supportive work environment. While not a mandated policy, ISO 45010 is now available for free to companies of all sizes to promote global adoption.
