ISO unveils ISO 45010 for menstrual and menopausal workplace health 

GLOBAL – The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched ISO 45010 – Occupational health and safety management — Menstruation and menopause in the workplace — Guidance, the first global standard dedicated to helping employers support staff who experience menstruation and menopause while at work. 

The standard offers practical, internationally agreed recommendations to enable organizations to better understand how these life stages can affect employees and to put in place workplace measures that promote health, wellbeing, inclusion, and sustained productivity.

Millions of workers face menstruation- and menopause-related health challenges during their careers, yet many workplace policies still do not reflect the real-world impact of these issues on attendance, performance, and engagement. 

ISO 45010 is designed to close that gap by giving leaders, managers, human resources teams, and occupational health and safety professionals clear guidance on identifying workplace factors that may disadvantage or cause discomfort to employees experiencing these conditions, and on implementing practical, cost-effective adjustments.

The launch coincides with new international research from the British Standards Institution (BSI) that underscores rising expectations for employer action. 

In a survey of 6,494 women across seven countries, 68% said they believe employers should play a role in supporting staff dealing with menstruation and menopause-related health issues, and seven in ten want their employer to have a clear, structured approach in place. 

However, despite growing awareness of formal policies, six in ten respondents reported that their employer has never proactively communicated about menopause support, highlighting a persistent gap between awareness and visible action.

ISO 45010 is intended for organizations of all sizes and across all sectors. 

It provides guidance on shaping workplace culture, updating policies and procedures, raising manager awareness and delivering training, designing physical work environments, measuring and evaluating the impact of support measures, and making practical adjustments that help employees manage symptoms while staying healthy and productive. 

The standard also includes additional, scaled guidance tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises, recognizing that resources and formal structures may differ in smaller organizations.

Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General, said that leaders are increasingly recognizing that supporting employee wellbeing means acknowledging and responding to the diverse needs of today’s workforce.

He explained that ISO 45010 gives organizations internationally agreed recommendations to better understand the factors affecting employees experiencing menstruation and menopause and to identify practical actions to support them. 

To maximize global uptake, ISO has made the standard available free of charge in a view-only digital format, removing financial barriers so that organizations of any size, in any location, can access and implement the guidance. 

Printed and downloadable editions remain available for purchase through ISO and national standards bodies.

Developing ISO 45010 required experts from multiple countries, sectors, and disciplines to build consensus on a topic long overlooked in occupational health and safety.

Sarah Sim, Director of Standardization at the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), described it as a privilege to help develop the world’s first international standard on menstruation and menopause, bringing together diverse expertise to create guidance that can be applied in workplaces around the world.

By embedding these considerations within existing workplace and occupational health and safety management systems, employers can strengthen employee wellbeing, retain skilled and experienced staff, and foster healthier, more supportive working environments. 

ISO 45010 forms part of the globally recognized ISO 45000 family of occupational health and safety standards, supporting organizations in continually improving workplace health, safety, and wellbeing through agreed best practice. 

It also complements existing systems such as ISO 45001, helping organizations integrate menstruation and menopause support into broader health and wellbeing strategies rather than treating them as standalone initiatives.

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