07/07/2026
How many times have you been told to “leave your problems at home” and “choose your attitude” at work? PMDD is an invisible condition that impacts our jobs just as much as it impacts other aspects of our lives. Productivity quotas, deadlines, endless meetings, customer service, and ROI often demand more of us than we can give, especially during luteal phase. And tbh, masking is already hard enough as is, so it can feel incredibly exhausting to show up every day and hide what we’re going through for 8 (or more) hours a day.
If this resonates right now, it might be time to consider asking for work accommodations.
Here are just a few ideas for what you could request:
• Flexible start/end times or ability to work from home during luteal phase
• Modified break schedule like more frequent, shorter breaks
• Adjusted deadlines or workload redistribution during luteal phase
• Use of PTO/sick leave without needing a new doctor’s note each time
• Quiet or private space to decompress
• Permission to step away from meetings if needed
• Predictive scheduling that front-loads demanding tasks, meetings, or presentations into the follicular phase
• Noise-canceling headphones or lighting adjustments such as lamps or dimmable lights
• Temperature control access (thermoregulation issues are common with PMDD!)
• Modified performance review timing so evaluations/KPIs don’t land during luteal phase
• Asynchronous communication options or ability to hop onto calls with camera off
• Written instructions or follow-up rather than verbal communication
Which of these have you tried? What other accommodations have you asked for that were helpful?
