Fórsa has welcomed the establishment of a working group to work on a menstrual policy for civil servants in Ireland. The decision follows news that civil servants in Northern Ireland will be provided greater support under a new agreed policy.

The new policy in the north aims to allow civil servants to ask for “reasonable adjustments” to help them cope with effects of their periods, and to eliminate the stigma around periods in the workplace.

The creation of a group to develop a similar policy in the Republic has been hailed a welcome development.

The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) group has been tasked with putting together the working group.

Unions hope that it will lead to greater flexibility for staff who request time off, while creating a work environment where people feel comfortable discussing periods and other menstrual issues with their managers and colleagues.

A recent survey by Fórsa’s Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Branch also found that just over half of female staff in a large Dublin local authority have had to take time off work because of their periods. But only 12% said they were comfortable enough to tell their line manager the real reason for their work absence.

Almost 80% of respondents said remote working had improved their experience of menstruation, with almost one-in-nine saying it was a plus not to have to commute when experiencing period-related cramps or tiredness.

When it came to people’s experience of menopause, over 80% of respondents said access to flexible arrangements on ad hoc basis as required would help. Better training for managers and staff was also considered important by 81% of those participating in the survey.

Almost all respondents – 98% – said they’d like to see a workplace period-friendly policy introduced, with measures including better toilet facilities, wipe-down darker fabrics and flexible working.