Millions of people experience menstruation and menopause related health challenges during their working lives, yet workplace policies often fail to reflect their impact on employees. As a result, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on September 07, 2026, launched ISO 45010 – Occupational health and safety management — Menstruation and menopause in the workplace — Guidance, the world’s first International Standard providing guidance to help organisations support employees experiencing menstruation and menopause at work.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to be a correspondent member of the ISO, supporting the promotion of international standards to connect local industries to global best practices.
ISO 45010 provides practical recommendations to help employers better support health, wellbeing and inclusion in their organisations.
The publication comes as international research by the British Standards Institution (BSI) highlights growing expectations for employers to provide better workplace support. Surveying 6,494 women across seven countries, the research found that 68% believe employers have a role in supporting employees experiencing menopause and menstruation-related health issues, while seven in ten want their employer to have a clear process and approach.
Despite increasing awareness of formal workplace policies, six in ten respondents said they have never heard their employer proactively talk about menopause support.
Designed for organisations of all sizes and sectors, the new standard offers guidance for leaders, managers, human resources professionals and occupational health and safety practitioners on identifying and addressing workplace factors that may affect employees experiencing menstruation or menopause.
Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General at ISO, said leaders are increasingly recognising that supporting employee wellbeing means recognising and responding to the diverse needs of today’s workforce.
“ISO 45010 provides internationally agreed recommendations to help organisations better understand the factors that can affect employees experiencing menstruation and menopause, and identify practical actions to support them,” Mr. Mujica said.
“Recognising that menstruation and menopause affect millions of people throughout their working lives, ISO 45010 will be made available at no cost, to maximize global access and adoption.
Anne Hayes, Director of Sectors, BSI, said their research highlighted why internationally agreed guidance for employers is so important.
“Employees increasingly expect employers to provide practical support, yet many still feel these issues are not openly discussed or consistently addressed. Closing that gap will require employers to move beyond awareness and create environments where people feel supported throughout every stage of their working lives,” she said.
Sarah Sim, Director, Standardization at the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), said it was a privilege to take part in developing the world’s first International Standard on menstruation and menopause.
The standard provides practical guidance and recommendations that cover many aspects of the workforce, including workplace culture, policies and procedures, manager awareness and training, workplace design, how to measure and evaluate impact and practical adjustments that may help employees manage symptoms while remaining healthy and productive at work. It also provides additional guidance for small to medium enterprises.
ISO 45010 forms part of the internationally recognised ISO 45000 family of Occupational Health and Safety standards, supporting organisations to continually improve workplace health, safety and wellbeing through globally agreed best practice.
It also complements existing occupational health and safety management systems, including ISO 45001, helping organisations integrate these considerations into broader health and wellbeing strategies.
Republished from the ISO website.
