Making construction a period dignified environment

January 17, 2019

Increased awareness about periods is the best way for industry to improve its working practices.

Unite the union has conducted a survey of 2,000 women working across the construction industry about their experiences with period dignity.

65% of those who responded said their employer had failed to make adjustments to accommodate their needs as female workers.

A lack of sanitary bins and clean toilets were highlighted as major concerns.

Unite are calling for four policies which they believe can make a significant improvement to the lives of female construction workers:

1. Designated female toilets, always accessible, regularly cleaned and lockable

2. Handwashing facilities with running water and soap provided

3. Sanitary bins provided which are clean and regularly emptied

4. Sanitary products provided in a dispenser in a discreet location and ideally free.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB), the trade association for SME constructors and house builders, welcomes the campaign’s effort to increase awareness about period dignity and believes it is the best way to deliver improved working environments.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “This survey highlights what more the industry can do to create excellent working environments and as a trade federation for construction SMEs, we welcome these findings. Increased awareness about periods is the best way for industry to improve its working practices.”

Monika Slowikowska, NFB member and director of Golden Houses Limited, said: “We cannot speak for other companies, but at Golden Houses we always try to provide the right facilities for women. If we’re going to encourage more women into the construction industry, their basic needs must be met. Talking more openly about those needs is an important first step to meeting them.”

rdtsystems

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Buying Alone? What Solo Buyers Need to Know Before Making an Offer on a House

Figures show that solo buyers accounted for 36.9% of Barclays’ mortgage completions in June 2026, as more people chose to step onto the property ladder without a partner beside them. Choosing independence over waiting for a joint purchase has doubled over the last 50+ years, with solo first-time buyers doubling from 15% before 1980 to…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How to Make a New-Build Living Room Feel Less Like a Show Home

An empty new-build living room can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. The walls are freshly painted, the sockets are in place, and there is nothing to remove before decorating begins. Yet once the sofa arrives, the room can still feel unsettled: too bare in some places, awkwardly crowded in others. The answer rarely involves buying…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage Borrowing Dip

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £3.9 billion in September, from £4.2 billion in August, below the previous 6-month average of £4.9 billion. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases decreased to 53,400 in September, below an average of around 58,800 over the previous 6-months. Approvals for remortgaging increased to 42,600…
Read More →
Breaking News

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry reaction

Following today’s Autumn Budget, reaction from property industry experts on six key areas for the property market. First-time buyer support: The £4.7bn Your First Home equity loan scheme, supporting 70,000 buyers, alongside the introduction of a new First Time Buyer ISA. Inflation and borrowing costs: The extension of the fuel duty freeze, household energy support…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can you legally BAN Halloween Trick or Treaters?

People who dread the annual knock of trick-or-treaters may have more power to keep Halloween callers away than they realise. As millions of children prepare to take to the streets on October 31, a property law expert has explained what homeowners can do if they do not want strangers walking up their path or knocking…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What the sector need to do differently to give first time buyers a chance

By Peter Hawley, Director, SOWN (part of LRG) The mortgage and property sector needs to stop assuming that younger buyers are either ready to buy outright or not ready at all. For many, the reality is somewhere in between. They may have stable employment, a deposit and a strong desire to own, but still find…
Read More →