BS 30416: A practical guide to workplace menopause & menstrual health support
By BSI
According to BSI research, 71% of women in the UK believe it would be helpful for organisations to have formal policies covering personal health and wellbeing issues such as menopause, menstruation, difficult pregnancies or miscarriage. Yet only 4% say they are aware of such policies in their own workplace.
BS 30416 is the British Standard for workplace support around menstruation, menstrual health and menopause. It was launched in May 2023 by the British Standards Institution (BSI), and has since been downloaded over 11,000 times.
But what does it mean in practice, and how can employers use it to create lasting improvements?
What is BS 30416?
BS 30416 is a free document to help employers develop more informed, inclusive and effective support strategies for employees experiencing menstruation, menstrual health conditions or menopause.
It is designed to be practical and flexible, with content aimed at HR professionals, line managers and business leaders. The standard includes:
• Common myths and misconceptions
• Terms and definitions
• Advice including conversation starters, policy examples and suggested workplace adjustments
• Tailored advice for SMEs
• An internal review checklist
• HR and line manager checklists
Like all our standards, BS 30416 brings together consensus-based guidance on what good looks like. While some standards are designed to be used with formal certification schemes, many, like this one, are not. Instead, it provides a structured framework that organisations can use in a way that works best for them.
There’s no requirement to implement every section. Employers can focus on the areas most relevant to their organisation and move at a pace that fits their business.
For example, a small remote team might prioritise guidance on flexibility and communication, while a larger business with physical premises might look at policies, workspace design or external training. The aim is to support meaningful change, regardless of sector, size or setup.
Why a standard?
When people think of British Standards, they often picture technical documents for engineering or manufacturing. And while many do serve those sectors, others are focused on very different areas, including inclusion, wellbeing and workplace culture.
BSI, as the UK’s National Standards Body, develops these standards by bringing together people with relevant experience and expertise. For BS 30416, that included healthcare professionals, employers, HR specialists, charities and individuals with lived experience. They were part of a dedicated drafting committee, working collaboratively to create practical advice that reflects real workplace needs.
This approach is what gives the standard its value. It distils a wide range of voices and best practice into one clear, usable document that reflects not only expert input, but the lived realities of those experiencing menstrual and menopausal health issues at work.
And although the standard was developed in the UK, its relevance is global. It has already been downloaded in 139 countries and territories, and it is now being used as the basis for a new ISO standard, helping to shape consistent approaches to workplace support worldwide.
How to use BS 30416
For many employers, BS 30416 will be their first experience with a British Standard. While BS 30416 is detailed, it is written to be accessible for those new to standards, and can be adopted whether you’re reviewing existing measures or starting from scratch.
We recommend starting with the internal review checklist to carry out gap analysis and identify where your current policies or support could be strengthened. From there, you can build out from what matters most to your organisation and your employees. That could mean updating desk booking systems to include information on proximity to temperature controls and bathrooms, organising internal events or training on the topics, or simply ensuring menopause and menstrual health are included in absence policies.
The most important thing is that your changes are helpful to the women you work with. Whether through surveys, manager check-ins or employee resource groups, communication with your people is key to understanding where change is needed.
The time to take action
Organisations such as Virgin Media O2, M&S and Oxford Brookes University have already started using BS 30416 and shared how it is shaping their approach. Their case studies are a great source of ideas and inspiration.
For smaller businesses, BSI has also published The little book of menstruation, menstrual health and menopause, written by author and campaigner Alice Smellie. It offers a streamlined version of the standard tailored to SMEs.
Having an impact starts with intent, but it is the follow-through that drives progress. Employers who are ready to make a change have a growing range of resources to draw on – including training, networks and standards like BS 30416. Now is the time for action.