Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-suffering-from-a-stomach-pain-6542722/
Many HR professionals feel managers lack the confidence and training to support employees with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions, according to a new report from Endometriosis UK and HR software provider Ciphr.
The research, based on a survey of 121 HR professionals and leaders, found that awareness and understanding of endometriosis remain low across many organisations. Respondents said managers often do not have the resources or knowledge to hold informed conversations about menstrual health, leaving employees without adequate support.
The study – Breaking the stigma: what HR teams need to know about endometriosis and menstrual health – highlights several barriers to creating supportive environments for those with the condition. These include a lack of free period products at work, rigid uniform policies, and a perception that some managers are unapproachable about health issues.
Endometriosis UK and Ciphr have issued a set of practical “talking points” for employers, offering steps to help managers address menstrual health as confidently as any other wellbeing issue. To mark the report’s launch, the organisations are encouraging people to share their experiences of #EndometriosisAtWork on social media.
“We know that there are many HR professionals already putting in place the right measures to enable those with endometriosis to feel valued, be productive and contribute to their organisation’s success – but as a charity we also hear stories of women and those assigned female at birth treated unfairly or without sympathy, forced to change careers or abandon their ambitions because of the disease.
We hope HR professionals recognise that providing support to the estimated 1.5m in the UK with endometriosis is in their interests. Doing so will not only enable that community to achieve their potential, but it sends a message to your wider team that they are valued and can expect support and reasonable adjustments.”
Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, said:
“It’s concerning that these results reveal such a wide gap in organisational awareness and readiness to support employees living with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions. When managers are perceived as unapproachable or ill-equipped to respond with empathy and understanding, organisations risk side-lining the needs of a significant part of their workforce.
HR teams have a vital role to play in changing this. Managers must be empowered to support their people holistically; not just in terms of performance and KPIs, but in their health and wellbeing too.”
Endometriosis UK trustee and senior HR professional Sanchia Alasia, who was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2010 after 15 years of symptoms, said flexibility can make a huge difference. She added:
“Those with endometriosis need to know that if they have a flare-up or need to attend a medical appointment, that they can tell a manager and be believed and understood, rather than judged. That flexibility needs to be there both in the culture of an organisation, but also in the policies that line managers turn to.”
The report, published on 30 September 2025, calls on employers to approach menstrual health with the same care and attention as any other health issue, ensuring that workplace culture and policy align to support inclusion and wellbeing for all employees.
