The Warehouse Group is leading retailers across the country by offering free period products for all staff members nationwide.
The retailer which owns The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7, 1-Day and The Market, will provide free pads for its 11,000 staff from Thursday.
The Warehouse Group Chief Product Officer Tania Benyon says she hopes providing period products can help eliminate anxiety surrounding menstruation.
"Our team should have the same access to period products in the workplace just as they would any other basic bathroom necessity," she says.
"We know people can get caught out without products while at work, which can lead to feelings of unease, embarrassment and even shame.
"We hope that through providing period products in team bathrooms, we can help to eliminate any anxiety surrounding menstruation."
Research conducted by The Warehouse Group's charity partner, The Period Place, showed a third of students and workers surveyed had missed work or school due to difficulty accessing products.
"Every day, the stigma around periods and a lack of access to period products can stop people from living their lives," Benyon says.
Last year, The Warehouse Group conducted a trial of customer donation bins with The Period Place in ten stores.
"We were able to reach those in the community in need of products and education. What we saw was how much our customers wanted to get behind the cause too, and we're pleased now to be introducing donation bins to sixteen more stores."
Period products will be rolled out for free at all New Zealand schools from June 2021.
"Young people should not miss out on their education because of something that is a normal part of life for half the population," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in February.
"Providing free period products at school is one way the Government can directly address poverty, increase school attendance, and make a positive impact on children's wellbeing."
A free educational podcast will be available on The Warehouse's Period Portal site as part of their initiative.
The series, hosted by Mai FM Breakfast announcer Tegan Yorwarth and Period Place co-founder Danika Revell, covers a range of topics that aims to provide period education and reduce period stigma.
