How to Provide Period Care at Work (Complete Guide for Facilities Teams)

Providing period products at work should be as simple as providing toilet paper.

Same expectation. Same placement. Same reliability.

But most workplaces still get this wrong. Products are either not provided at all or placed outside the stall in outdated dispensers that require coins, break frequently, or get ignored.

This guide explains exactly how to implement a workplace period care program that works: reliable, low-maintenance, and built into the restroom like it should be.

What Is the Best Way to Provide Period Products at Work?

The best way to provide period products at work is to install dispensers inside every restroom stall and keep them consistently stocked with both pads and tampons.

This approach mirrors how toilet paper works: always there, always accessible, no extra steps required.

Why Workplaces Provide Period Products

This is an operational decision.

When products are not available, employees leave the stall, search for supplies, improvise, or leave the workplace entirely. That creates unnecessary disruption inside a space that should be predictable.

Organizations that standardize access see improvements in consistency, employee experience, and overall restroom functionality.

At the same time, legislation is expanding across regions, making access to menstrual products a growing compliance consideration.

Step 1: Choose the Right Dispenser

There are three common approaches:

Counter baskets or binsLow-cost but inconsistent. Products are exposed, can become messy, and require constant upkeep.

Wall-mounted dispensers (outside the stall)Traditional but flawed. Requires leaving the stall. Many are outdated or poorly maintained.

In-stall dispensers (recommended)Installed inside the stall, next to the toilet. This is the only model that ensures access when and where it is needed.

UNICORN offers a commercial-grade stainless steel in-stall dispenser designed for workplace environments:

• ~30-second adhesive installation (no drilling required)

• ~10-second cartridge refills

• Standardized across every stall

UNICORN systems are deployed across enterprise workplaces including JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Toyota, Pepsi, and IBM.

Step 2: Install Products Inside Every Stall

Placement determines whether the system works.

If products are outside the stall, access drops. Not because people do not need them, but because the moment of need is inside the stall.

Best practice:

• Install inside the stall

• Position within arm’s reach of the toilet

• Install in every stall, not just one per restroom

This creates consistency and removes friction.

Step 3: Stock the Right Products

A complete program includes both pads and tampons.

Key considerations:

• Materials: Organic cotton and plant-based components

• Packaging: Individually wrapped for hygiene

• Format: Cartridge-based systems for fast restocking

UNICORN uses a cartridge system designed for speed and consistency:

• Tampons: 60 units per cartridge (360 per case)

• Pads: 40 units per cartridge (240 per case)

This eliminates sorting, reduces handling, and standardizes maintenance.

Step 4: Build Restocking Into Existing Workflows

The most common failure is not installation. It is inconsistency.

An empty dispenser creates a worse experience than no dispenser at all.

Best practice:

• Align restocking with toilet paper checks

• Avoid creating new workflows

• Use systems that reduce refill time

UNICORN’s cartridge system is designed to streamline this process and reduce ongoing maintenance time.

Step 5: Budget for Workplace Period Care

Workplace period care is typically lower cost than expected.

Cost categories:

• Dispensers: One-time installation

• Products: Ongoing supply (often ~1 case per product per stall annually)

• Installation: Minimal time required (~30 seconds per stall)

In many cases, this cost is lower than most restroom consumables.

Step 6: Normalize Access in the Workplace

Once installed, the system should be treated as standard infrastructure.

• Communicate availability to employees

• Integrate into existing workplace policies where relevant

• Ensure consistent availability across all restrooms

This is not a special program. It is a baseline expectation.

Step 7: Stay Ahead of Compliance Requirements

Requirements for providing menstrual products are expanding.

Depending on the region, regulations may define:

• Which facilities must provide products

• Which restrooms must be stocked

• Whether products must be free

Implementing a standardized system now reduces future compliance risk.

How to Get Started

The simplest way to implement workplace period care:

1. Install in-stall dispensers in every stall

2. Add product refills to existing supply orders

3. Align restocking with restroom checks

4. Communicate availability

   
   

UNICORN is designed for this exact workflow, with fast installation, fast refills, and integration into existing distributor supply chains including Staples, WB Mason, and BradyPLUS.

FAQ: Workplace Period Care

Do employers have to provide period products? Requirements vary by region, but many jurisdictions are moving toward mandatory access in workplaces and public facilities.

Where should period products be placed in a workplace? Inside each restroom stall, within arm’s reach of the toilet.

What products should be provided? A combination of pads and tampons

How often should products be restocked? Typically aligned with restroom maintenance schedules, similar to toilet paper checks.

What is the most efficient way to restock period products? Cartridge-based systems are the fastest and most consistent, reducing handling and refill time.

Learn more about the UNICORN system