ROI Calculator: Free Period Products at Work

Quantify the Impact of Period Support in Your Workplace

Unlock the business case for workplace period equity. Our ROI calculator provides a data-backed estimate of the productivity gains and cost savings your organization can achieve by providing free period products.

How to Start:

1. Enter Your Data: Fill in your organization’s details in the left column.

2. Refine Your Results: Review our research-backed defaults in the right column and adjust them to match your unique workplace context.

3. Claim Your Business Case: Click "Download" to receive a customized PDF report. Share these insights with your leadership team to prove that supporting employee health is a smart investment in your bottom line.

Your Organization's Inputs

Organization Name

Total Female Headcount ? Enter the total number of female employees at your organization.

Average Hourly Labor Rate ? Include salary plus benefits (total cost to employer). Update for a more accurate estimate. Default is $40/hr.

Dispenser Type ? Choose the dispenser type that best fits your workplace. Baskets are open countertop containers — lowest cost, no installation required. Simple Dispensers are basic wall-mounted units that hold a moderate quantity of products. Commercial Dispensers are high-capacity, wall-mounted units designed for busy restrooms, ADA compliant, and built for durability. Each selection sets the default cost per bathroom, which you can still adjust manually in the Calculation Inputs section.

Baskets Simple Dispenser Commercial Dispensers

# of Bathrooms at Your Facility

Download Your Custom ROI Calculation

Calculation Inputs

% in Menstruating Age Range ? 76% of female employees are of menstruating age (defined as ages 16–54). Source: BLS Labor Force Statistics, Current Population Survey.

Default: 76%

% Likely to Face a Period Emergency ? 86% of women have experienced an unexpected period in public without supplies. Source: Free the Tampons Foundation National Research Study, 2013.

Default: 86%

Time Lost Per Incident (hours) ? 0.33 hours (20 minutes) — Conservative estimate of time lost per incident, reflecting the average time an employee spends locating or obtaining period products, including asking a colleague or making a brief trip.

Default: 0.33 hrs (20 min)

Average Incidents Per Year ? This is an RMH Compass estimate based on a literature review. An incident is one where an employee must either ask a colleague, go to a store, or go home for supplies.

Default: 3

Annual Supply Cost Per Employee ? $6/year per employee for workplace menstrual products. Source: Free the Tampons Foundation Advocacy Toolkit for Workplaces.

Default: $6.00

Dispenser Cost Per Bathroom ? Figure represents average costs for the dispenser for each type of dispenser.

Default: $5.00

Your ROI Projection

Year 1

ROI — Year 1

—

return on investment

(Productivity Saved − Year 1 Cost) ÷ Year 1 Cost × 100

Year 1 Total Cost

—

supply + dispensers

(Headcount × Annual Supply Cost) + (# Bathrooms × Dispenser Cost)

Year 1 Productivity Value Saved

—

productivity recovered

Impacted Employees × Incidents/Yr × Hours Lost × Hourly Rate

Year 2+

ROI — Year 2+

—

return on investment

(Productivity Saved − Year 2+ Cost) ÷ Year 2+ Cost × 100

Year 2+ Total Cost

—

supply only

Headcount × Annual Supply Cost

Year 2+ Productivity Value Saved

—

productivity recovered

Impacted Employees × Incidents/Yr × Hours Lost × Hourly Rate

Research-Backed Defaults

76% menstruating age (BLS)

86% face emergencies (Free the Tampons, 2013)

0.33 hrs lost per incident (20 min)

3× incidents per year

$6/yr supply cost per employee (Free the Tampons)

Calculator estimates are based on published research and industry benchmarks. Results are illustrative and may vary based on your workforce characteristics.

Get a copy of your results to share with your team.

Download Your Custom ROI Calculation

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Need additional support?
Contact us at info@rmhcompass.org to get started.

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