Hidden Barriers: The Relationship between Pain and Work Engagement during Menstruation, and the Role of Shame and Perceived Organisational Support

Abstract

Menstruation is a natural, biological process experienced by a significant portion of the workforce, yet its impact on engagement and productivity remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine how menstruation affects work engagement on a day-to-day basis. Shame and perceived organisational support were included as potential moderators to assess whether they influenced levels of work engagement in the face of pain during menstruation. A daily diary design was employed with a view to collect data over a period of 10 days [N=101]. Results indicated significantly higher perceptions of pain during menstruation. Secondly, higher levels of pain were significantly related to the depletion of work engagement during menstruation. However, no significant moderating effects of shame or perceived organisational support were found. These findings contribute to the framing of menstrual pain as a barrier to work engagement. This barrier carries adverse effects for both the employee and the organisation, with employee engagement representing a source of competitive advantage. Organisations can protect the well-being of their employees by framing menstrual pain as an impediment to engagement and productivity to create supportive and conducive work environments through policy, practice, and intervention.