Danielle Howe

Endometriosis in Australian workplaces: understanding the impacts on productivity, wellbeing, and workplace menstrual stigma

Individuals with chronic menstrual-related health problems, including chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and endometriosis, can experience difficulties in participation and symptom management in the workplace. Endometriosis, the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is the most common cause CPP with a prevalence rate of 11 per cent in Australia. Endometriosis has a negative impact on work and costs AUD$9.7 billion annually in healthcare, with most (76 per cent) attributable to lost productivity.

Research suggests guidelines and policies may help to improve productivity, while also de-stigmatising the discussion around endometriosis in the workplace. Endometriosis at work, an initiative between Endometriosis Australia, Western Sydney University, Southern Cross University, University of St Andrews (Scotland) and University of Technology Sydney, aims to develop a set of guidelines to help Australian employers support employees to manage endometriosis in the workplace.

This PhD project aims to evaluate Endometriosis at work employer guidelines and will explore relationships between employee and employer outcomes (e.g. productivity, absenteeism, work-related stress, wellbeing, relationships, etc.) and employers’ motivations and drivers for implementing and embedding these guidelines.

Findings may contribute to our nuanced understanding of the complexities of endometriosis guidelines on labour participation, how drivers and motivation can shape employee or employer outcomes and highlight best practice to implement and embed effective endometriosis guidelines.

Supervisor:

Mike Armour,  Dr Michelle O’Shea, Dr Sarah Duffy