Endometriosis and work
Your employer has a responsibility to make sure that your workplace is safe and inclusive.Your employer has a responsibility to make sure that your workplace is safe and inclusive. But if you have particular requirements, for instance if you have or suspect endometriosis, you will need to tell them how your symptoms affect you.
This might seem scary, particularly when it concerns something so personal, but you shouldn’t worry about disclosing a health condition, or worry about your job security and working conditions as a result of this disclosure.
Reasonable adjustments
Employers have a legal responsibility to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that disabled workers aren’t substantially disadvantaged when doing their jobs in comparison with persons who are not disabled. This applies to all workers, including trainees, apprentices, contract workers and some business partners.
There are a number of adjustments an employer might consider, but reasonable adjustments should be tailored to your specific case. The sorts of reasonable adjustments employees with endometriosis might typically request include:
- Is your desk close enough to a toilet?
- Are you able to take shorter, more frequent breaks to take medication or change period products?
- Is working from home possible?
- After an operation, are you able to have a phased return to work – working shorter hours or fewer days to begin with?
Further advice and support on workplace issues
- Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice and offer training and help to resolve disputes.
- The Disability Law Service provides help for people trying to access equality of opportunity in the workplace.
- Citizens Advice can help you to find out more about your rights and how to solve problems.
- If you are part of a Union, they will provide you with information, support and representation at meetings with your employer, should you need it.
- Support services like Occupational Health
- Menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace guide
- Endometriosis UK Endometriosis friendly employer scheme