M&C Saatchi introduces flexible working policy for women, ‘WFH. Period.’
M&C Saatchi has launched a new initiative, enabling female employees to work from home when experiencing period pain.
The initiative aims to make the workplace more comfortable for female employees, and destigmatise and normalise conversations about periods.
M&C Saatchi group general manager, Nathalie Brady, said the issue of period pain arose whilst the agency was addressing its inclusivity.
Although good intentions, this achieves the opposite to the intended. This infantilises women, the opposite of empowerment
Agreed. This is the exact opposite of female rights…gross. I actually throught this was a joke. What woman really need is someone sympathic to being pregnant or having an infant at home. Or maybe not having men grossly hit on them.
No. No. No. I’m with Ms Monocle. And do you really need to include a used tampon in that creative. You can have an inclusive business and promote a empowered culture around this issue without going down this path. Please keep your internal comms to yourselves.
Surely this is a personal matter shareable to female staff on email?
All this does is highlight a personal and natural function, but draw further attention to it.
Where is Mary today?…oh, she is having her period, but is available on mobile!
Common sense would just indicate that female staff would exercise some discretion and appreciate the management support. Why does it need a logo and internal campaign
This only serves to cause embarrassment the next time a woman says she’s working from home.. Now everyone will be speculating that she has her period (and that’s exactly what you want all your male colleagues doing – thinking about your period). Well intentioned but very poorly executed. Just created a more inclusive WFH policy for everyone. Period.
While this has good intentions, this is the opposite of empowering women. My female counter-parts are well-versed in managing their own period pain? I’m well versed at working productively while on my period, thanks.
If you want to empower women, how about giving them pay parity, flexible working, and promoting an inclusive culture for working mums. All of these issues are notoriously rife in ad agencies – especially at one like M&C.
No company should get plaudits for being human. Nor should they PR it.
Hhmmm,
“We don’t want to make a thing of periods” – and then place a used tampon in the communications?? Dumb and condescending – very poor!