ISO launches first international workplace standard on menstruation and menopause

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched the first international standard covering menstruation and menopause in the workplace, as research shows employees increasingly expect employers to provide practical support.

ISO 45010 – Occupational health and safety management – Menstruation and menopause in the workplace – Guidance provides recommendations for employers on integrating menstruation and menopause into workplace health, safety and wellbeing practices.

The development is significant for UK employers because it positions support for menstruation and menopause within the wider framework of occupational health and safety management, rather than treating it solely as an employee benefit or standalone wellbeing initiative.

The standard covers workplace culture, policies and procedures, manager awareness and training, workplace design, practical adjustments and approaches to measuring and evaluating impact.

It is designed for organisations of all sizes and sectors, with guidance aimed at leaders, managers, HR professionals and occupational health and safety practitioners. Additional guidance is included for small and medium-sized businesses.

Its publication follows research from the British Standards Institution (BSI) involving 6,494 women across seven countries.

The study found 68 per cent believe employers have a role in supporting employees experiencing menopause and menstruation-related health issues, while seven in 10 want their employer to have a clear process and approach.

However, six in 10 respondents said they had never heard their employer proactively discuss menopause support.

The findings suggest a persistent gap between growing awareness of women’s health in the workplace and employees’ experience of practical support.

Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General at ISO, said: “ISO 45010 provides internationally agreed recommendations to help organisations better understand the factors that can affect employees experiencing menstruation and menopause, and identify practical actions to support them.”

He added: “Recognizing that menstruation and menopause affect millions of people throughout their working lives, ISO 45010 will be made available at no cost, to maximize global access and adoption.

“By removing financial barriers, organisations of all sizes, regardless of location or resources, can access and implement the standard, helping employers create supportive working environments.”

ISO 45010 builds on work already undertaken in the UK. BSI published its standard on menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace in 2023.

Anne Hayes, Director of Sectors, BSI, said: “Our research shows that conversations around menstruation and menopause are becoming more common in workplaces, but despite three years of progress after the foundational British standard on menopause and menstruation was published in 2023, there is still a significant gap between awareness and action.”

She added: “Employees increasingly expect employers to provide practical support, yet many still feel these issues are not openly discussed or consistently addressed. Closing that gap will require employers to move beyond awareness and create environments where people feel supported throughout every stage of their working lives.”

The international standard has been developed with experts from different countries, sectors and disciplines.

Sarah Sim, Director of standardisation at the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), said: “Developing ISO 45010 brought together experts from different countries, sectors and disciplines to build international consensus around guidance that can be applied in workplaces worldwide.”

ISO 45010 forms part of the ISO 45000 family of occupational health and safety standards and complements ISO 45001, the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems.

Its introduction gives employers a globally agreed framework against which to consider their approach to menstruation and menopause, at a time when expectations around women’s health support at work continue to increase.

ISO 45010 is being made available free of charge to encourage adoption by organisations regardless of their size or resources.