'Comfort & dignity' | Starbucks is giving free period products to its UK staff

Starbucks employees in the UK can now access free tampons and pads at work, the company has announced.

The coffee chain has partnered with sustainable period care brand TOTM - Time Of The Month - whose mission is rooted in breaking down the stigma and shame that surrounds periods.

The initiative was brought in after Starbucks employees (known as ‘partners’ within the firm) in the Women’s Impact Network presented the solution to business leaders, as part of wider work in the company to normalise periods and improve period dignity in the workplace. In addition to helping end period poverty, the partnership supports TOTM’s mission to alleviate anxiety about working during your period.

Research conducted by TOTM found that 80% of women and people with periods say they worry about it at work and 76% say they find their period disruptive to their working day, with over 64% saying they do not feel comfortable talking about their period in work.