It’s been just over a month since we launched our Breaking Taboos framework, and already the spotlight is firmly on some of the issues our campaign seeks to expose.
In October, the FSU presented evidence at the South Australian Select Committee on Endometriosis – a committee set up to investigate the impact endometriosis has on women in SA, including the effects on employment.
You can read the FSU’s full submission here,which recommends that the South Australian Government fund a public awareness campaign, drawing attention to both the symptoms and severity of endometriosis.
At the Select Committee, FSU National Policy Officer Angela Budai spoke about the unacceptable gender pay gap in the finance sector, and the urgent need for additional leave entitlements such as menopause and menstruation leave.
“It is well past time that the finance industry considers the impact that issues such as endometriosis can have on workers,” said Ms Budai.
“The discussion of these matters remains taboo, and the inability to freely discuss the impact and symptoms can affect a person’s self-confidence and their ability to work productively.”
Cbus continues to lead the way when it comes to these additional leave entitlements, with their 2021 Enterprise Agreement providing 12 days of paid menopause and menstruation leave.
“When I was interviewing one of the staff members from Cbus, […] one of the women […] said, ‘I am listened to and treated with empathy.’ She said she has used maybe one day of the leave. She said, ‘I haven’t needed to use it, but the fact that when I speak to my manager, they hear me, they believe me and I’m treated with empathy’.”
It is statements like this that not only demonstrate the positive impact these additional leave entitlements have on workers, but also the effect they have on workplace culture.
“One of the things that [Cbus] wanted to do was try to increase the number of people who were accessing this leave,” Ms Budai told the committee.
“They said particularly when it comes to menopause […] senior managers are talking about it now. It’s not something that is hidden and people are feeling more comfortable.”
As we know, menopause and menstruation are normal biological functions, not illnesses. Yet too many workers face challenges managing their symptoms while also trying to meet workplace expectations.
“It is vital that we increase awareness of the impact that menstruation, endometriosis and menopause can have or is having on individual workers,” said Ms Budai.
“These symptoms are not well known and the culture of silence means that the impact of menstruation, endometriosis and menopause on workers is hidden.”
Despite some great progress, we’ve got a long way to go to breaking the stigma around menopause and menstruation.
Visit our website for more information and to get involved in our campaign.
Remember, the more voices talking about this, the better!
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