‘Keep working like nothing is wrong’: women make the case for paid menstruation leave

The majority of working women suffer period pain so great it affects their performance - but three in four feel they can't talk to their manager about it, according to the preliminary findings of a survey of Australia's biggest unions.

The survey, conducted by law firm Maurice Blackburn on behalf of the Australian Workers Union, the Transport Workers Union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) and the United Workers Union, is part of a national campaign to introduce menstrual and menopausal leave.

About a thousand members of the unions have responded to the survey so far, with 75% saying they suffer from painful periods.

Of that subset, 73% said their periods were so painful they either struggled to focus or it affected their ability to perform their work.

Despite this, 74% said they did not feel comfortable talking to their line manager about taking leave or requesting flexible work arrangements to manage their symptoms.

About 34% said they didn't think their manager would understand, another third said it could impact negatively on their career or how they were viewed in the workplace. One in five feared they wouldn't be believed.

Sarah Love, a disability support worker based in Adelaide, suffers from endometriosis and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She told the survey she would find it difficult to disclose her diagnosis at work "for fear of being treated unfairly".

"Most people do not understand the intensity of what I experience and I would feel like my managers and colleagues would judge me as weak or [a] hypochondriac," she said.

"I am afraid that if people knew, they may not afford me the opportunities that I know I can rise to most of the month. I am very good at my job, and I have pushed myself during these painful times to go on, but the toll on my mental health, productivity and self worth can be huge."

Another respondent, the Melbourne-based architect Katie Checken, also suffers from endometriosis. After surgery in 2021, she negotiated a flexible work arrangement of four days a week with at least one day in the office, but is now feeling pressure to return more often.

"With the majority of my bosses being male, having your period is definitely not an excuse for not coming to work," she said.

"To me, it's crazy that 50% of the population bleeds - sometimes heavily - every month, yet we are supposed to keep working like nothing is wrong."

Others spoke of debilitating symptoms: "At its worst, I can't do anything. I can't think, I can't sit, and I can barely breathe. I find myself in tears at my desk, trying to focus on the task at hand," an anonymous communications professional in Brisbane said.

"During my last period, the nausea was so bad that I was constantly vomiting and almost ended up in the hospital; I was home for five days and had to utilise half my sick leave for the year."

Women suffering perimenopause and menopause symptoms were also surveyed though they represented only about a quarter of respondents.

Two-thirds said it affected their ability to perform, with the majority suffering symptoms either daily (36%) or multiple times a week (36%).

Jessica Heron, a lawyer at Maurice Blackburn who is leading the survey, said she was concerned that women with menopause may be retiring early out of fear of having to cope with their symptoms in the workplace.

A farm worker in Queensland currently going through menopause said most women in her industry retired at her age.

"I love what I do and I need to keep working. It would be great if I could have a bit of flexibility with my manager so that on particularly hard days I could alter my working hours to make the symptoms more bearable," she told the survey.

Heron said retiring early could have a negative impact on women's wellbeing and sense of purpose, and adversely affect their superannuation balance.

The national peak superannuation body, the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), released a report in October showing that just over a quarter of working women were retiring under the age of 55, four years earlier than planned.

Almost 50% of these women cited personal "sickness, injury or disability" as their reason for retiring. It's estimated to cost women more than $17bn in lost earnings and superannuation.

Heron said existing leave provisions under the Fair Work Act were insufficient.

She said the most effective way to combat this was to enshrine an extra 12 days of leave a year in the Fair Work Act for workers who suffered painful periods or menopause symptoms - similar to the family and domestic violence leave policy introduced this year.

"The current menstrual taboo is harming women as they suffer in silence. Creating menstrual policies will result in happier workplaces for everyone," Heron said.

Sydney-based underwear company Modibodi introduced paid menstruation, menopause and miscarriage leave in May 2021, allowing staff up to 10 days a year, while retail super fund Future Super provides six days.

Gender equality agency Victorian Women's Trust introduced 12 days of menstrual leave more than five years ago and found there was "positive take up" without "disruption".

In February, Spain passed laws enshrining five days of menstrual leave for women who have incapacitating periods.

Carla Jones, the principal industrial and women's officer at the RBTU, said it was important to "right the ship".

"The massive body of employment law that exists has largely been built on the back of a male-only workforce," she said.

Surveying is expected to continue until June before the full results are made public.