More Workplaces in Japan Stocking Sanitary Napkins

Tokyo, Feb. 28 (Jiji Press)–Workplaces across Japan are starting to stock sanitary napkins, like toilet paper, to help women work with a greater sense of ease. Household goods makers Kao Corp. and Unicharm Corp. have rolled out services to stock sanitary pads in workplace restrooms. Companies that introduced the services said they have seen improvements in how employees view them. According to a 2024 industry ministry estimate, the annual economic loss in Japan due to women-specific health issues stood at 3.4 trillion yen. About 570 billion yen of this was attributed to lower productivity caused by absence from work and reduced performance due to menstruation. Addressing menstrual issues is becoming increasingly important for companies as the number of women in the workforce increases. In 2022, Kao launched the “Laurier in Workplace” service, in which it provides sanitary napkin storage boxes for free to corporate clients, which then buy napkins to fill them. Service users have noted the ease of setting up the boxes in offices and factories. Combined with the “Laurier in School” program for schools, the service had been introduced at over 600 companies and schools as of December last year. Kao released the service after a survey on menstrual issues among employees in their first to third years showed that respondents most frequently struggled with not having napkins when their periods suddenly start. “We want to make it common for sanitary products to be kept available in case someone is in trouble,” said Ayumi Kato, brand manager at the company’s sanitary products division. Laurier in Workplace was initially adopted mainly by companies with many female employees. Now it has spread to industries with a high proportion of male workers. According to general contractor Obayashi Corp., which introduced the service in May 2024, a female employee working at construction sites said she can work with peace of mind as she no longer needs to return to the office even if her period suddenly begins. Unicharm launched a similar service offering sanitary napkin dispensers for free to corporations and schools last October. “(The service) helps increase psychological safety in the workplace, enhance recognition of companies as those addressing women’s health issues and raise corporate value,” a Unicharm official said. “We aim to realize a society in which sanitary products are available everywhere, making life easier for everyone,” the official added. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]