Facility management is evolving beyond systems and square footage. Today, the built environment is increasingly measured by how well it supports people, their productivity, safety and ability to show up fully at work.
One area gaining long-overdue attention is accessible period care. In a recent episode of the Connected FM podcast, host Edward Wagoner sits down with Claire Coder, founder of Aunt Flow and an IFMA Global Influencer, to unpack why period products should be treated as a basic workplace necessity — not a perk or afterthought.
Their conversation moves beyond discomfort and misconceptions to focus on what facility leaders care about most: operational efficiency, employee experience and smart design decisions that reduce risk and cost.
“The reality is everyone loves someone who menstruates,” Coder explains. Roughly half of the global workforce may menstruate at some point, yet most facilities still treat period products as optional or personal items rather than essentials.
This isn’t just a workforce issue; it’s a facilities issue. When appropriate disposal options aren’t provided, products are more likely to be flushed, contributing to plumbing failures, maintenance calls and biohazard exposure for custodial teams.
For many facility leaders, the challenge isn’t whether accessible period care matters — it’s overcoming the discomfort of talking about it in the first place.
Wagoner reflects on his own evolution, noting how common it is for leaders to avoid the topic altogether. Yet avoiding it doesn’t make the operational challenges disappear. “If we offer toilet paper and paper towels at no cost, why is this different?” he asks.
The conversation highlights a broader truth: facility management has long been about solving problems that affect people, even when those problems aren’t visible or openly discussed. Period care is no exception.
One of the most persistent objections to accessible period care is cost. Coder addresses this head-on, outlining how the numbers often tell a different story.
Accessible period care programs typically cost less than $4 per employee per year. That investment can pay for itself quickly when compared to lost productivity from employees leaving work unexpectedly or recurring plumbing repairs caused by improper disposal.
Restrooms were largely designed decades ago, based on assumptions that no longer reflect today’s workforce. When facilities don’t account for basic biological needs, people are forced to work around the building — rather than the building working for them.
Accessible period care supports a more human-centered approach to design, improving safety, dignity and usability without adding operational complexity.
Accessible period care is no longer a fringe idea. Policies requiring free period products are expanding across the U.S., Canada and Europe, signaling a shift in expectations for workplaces and public facilities.
For organizations, this presents an opportunity to lead rather than react — implementing solutions now that align with evolving regulations and modern workforce needs.
Facilities teams juggle countless priorities, and period care can easily fall down the list unless someone speaks up. As Coder notes, meaningful change often starts with internal advocates who challenge “the way it’s always been.”
For facility leaders, accessible period care offers a practical way to improve employee experience, reduce operational risk and design spaces that truly support the people inside them.
Listen to the full episode of Connected FM to hear how accessible period care is reshaping workplace design and facility strategy.