Bupa Global & UK introduce free period support to employees
- The Period Plan is now available, free of charge, to all UK-based permanent and fixed term colleagues at Bupa
- Anyone suffering from painful, heavy or irregular periods will be able to have a personalised care plan for a full year, including access to GP appointments
- Insight from the latest Bupa Wellbeing Index reveals almost half (47%) of women who have periods experience severe pain most months
Bupa is giving access to its Period Plan as a free health and wellbeing benefit to all UK-based permanent and fixed-term colleagues.
The Period Plan is a personalised care plan for people who have heavy, painful or irregular periods and is available for anyone over the age of 18 who suffer with their periods. The Plan includes 45 minutes with a GP, plus a follow up appointment and advice for a full year.
Periods can have a significant impact on wellbeing. Figures1 from the latest Bupa Wellbeing Index found almost half (47%) of women who have periods experience severe period pain most months. Many also battle with regular symptoms like nausea (31%) and headaches or migraines (48%).
Periods can affect women’s daily lives, with many commonly reporting feelings of exhaustion (41%), discomfort from the pain (37%) and needing to make regular bathroom trips due to heavy bleeding (30%).
Despite the impact it has on their lives most months, many women feel they can’t openly discuss their periods while at work. Just one in eight (13%) have taken time off work in the last 12 months due to symptoms linked to periods, with a third (35%) giving a different reason when requesting the time away.
Tom Hoosen-Webber, Chief People and Procurement Officer, Bupa Global & UK, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve just launched our Bupa Period Plan for free to all our colleagues at Bupa. This shows our continued commitment to our people, giving them to access the support they need.
“The latest insights from our Bupa Wellbeing Index focusing on women’s health, show just how many women suffer with painful and heavy periods each month, and how this affects both their home and professional lives. So, it’s vital workplaces foster a culture where women are able to have the awareness and support they need. Women make up 48% of the UK workforce and it’s essential we help them to thrive.
“Education, flexible working and access to healthcare services are three ways companies can help women in their workplace manage heavy and painful periods, reducing sick days and retaining essential talent. At Bupa, we’re committed to breaking down taboos around women’s health and this starts with providing our expert support to our much-valued people.”
Alongside access to the Bupa Period Plan through their health clinics, Bupa offers a range of support for women’s health, including nurse-led phone lines to offer 24/7, 365 day support, health insurance for further investigations and GP appointments. Bupa launched its free Menopause Plan benefit in 2021 and is now ensuring the same support is available to colleagues experiencing period related symptoms.
Further insights from the Bupa Wellbeing Index revealed that a lack of awareness about the related symptoms many women experience during their period seems to be a factor in workplace attitudes. Just under a fifth (18%) of those who have periods feel more training should be in place for managers. Similarly, women are keen to see more concrete period health policies in their workplace, including free sanitary products (36%), clearly signposted days off for period health (30%), and access to services for support, such as GP appointments (19%).
