What you need to know about period dignity schemes

You might think me lying if I told you a male-dominated industry such as construction is one of our key target areas to distribute free period products. But you’d be wrong.

My job at Hey Girls is to ensure people working in all industries have access to free period products and education. And construction takes up a lot of my time – not because we are so desperate to see things change, but because the industry is too.

The time of taboo is over. We are seeing more and more women in construction firms demanding change, and thankfully, many of their bosses are listening. But there is still a long way to go.

In my native Scotland we have seen the benefits access to free period products can bring people. It opens up the doors to success and stops something as natural as a period from letting people reach their full potential.

It stops people from feeling forced to choose unsafe alternatives, leaving work early, or feeling ashamed to ask their colleagues for help.

Businesses are making products freely available across their offices and sites, ensuring no-one should feel the hardships of period poverty or the shame of being caught short

Thanks to our partnerships with construction firms across the UK, we are now seeing the same results in the industry.

Introducing period dignity schemes not only shows a firm’s commitment to staff wellbeing and equality and diversity, it shows their willingness to opening up the conversation and drive positive change. Schemes have also seen increased employee engagement and morale.

We are proud to work with numerous construction firms across the UK including Wates, Murphy and Willmott Dixon. Businesses are making products freely available across their offices and sites, ensuring no-one should feel the hardships of period poverty or the shame of being caught short.

Their staff have sent in tonnes of emails with praise and they are taking on the mantle to inspire others. Together, we are building an unstoppable movement for change.

Working with Hey Girls not only helps to ensure no member of staff is left behind or made to feel ashamed about having their period, it helps vulnerable people across the UK too.

We operate a “buy one, donate one” model, meaning one box of products is donated to community partners such as food banks

The not-for-profit operates on a “buy one, donate one” model, meaning one box of products is donated to community partners such as food banks, homeless shelters and women’s refuges.

I’m incredibly proud to say we’ve donated more than 26 million products since we formed in 2018. But with one in 10 people in the UK living in period poverty and the cost-of-living crisis raging, our work is by no means over.

I’m equally proud to see organisations like ours and tenacious people across the construction industry are driving forward positive change. Knowing that by working together we are changing the world is a truly incredible feeling.

To those yet to take the step, or think it may not benefit them – I say, how much do you truly value your staff?

The tide is changing. Now is the time to ensure your firm is on the right side of history.

Daisy Williams is B2B partnerships and contract manager at Hey Girls. To learn more about Hey Girls and their mission to eradicate period poverty and improve period dignity across the UK, visit their website: www.heygirls.co.uk.