to think a 'day off for periods' is a damaging gimmick

[peaceoftheaction]

This company in the news giving women period days off. I mean ffs women have struggled for so long to get taken seriously in the workplace. I think the publicity about this does more harm than good.

Why does it do more harm than good?

Do you suffer the sort of periods that make you pass out?

Obviously as a feminist I agree with you, but as a hormonal wreck who can often be found crying in the work loos at certain times of the month, I would sometimes welcome a day off...

I had to take a sick day yesterday, as I came on my period. Before I had my child, I took 2 days off a month. Look up endometriosis.

Not everyone can manage their period with paracetamol and a bigger pair of knickers.

Don't be so judgemental.

If you read the article it's not about 'days off for periods' - "This is not about employees taking more time off but working more flexibly and efficiently around their menstrual cycle and encouraging a work-life balance."

I saw the thread about this earlier. Not sure what to think.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/2583237-Workplace-Period-Policy

Very few women suffer from periods that make them pass out and it's a very sad state of affairs that those who do can't get the medical help they need (because that is not normal)

I agree, this is embarrassing and ridiculous. I manage 14 men. Can you imagine me telling them I'm off for a period day. For crying out loud

I agree with you OP. If you're incapable of working you can take a normal sick day. The specific reason as to why you're sick doesn't need to be broadcast to all your colleagues. I think it's a free backwards and actually will call for women to disclose the reason for their sick days whereas men won't have to.

Step* backwards

As I suffer from horrendous periods, I'd say it's easy to dismiss this as damaging if you don't suffer equally. If you do, it's easy to understand why this would be a great thing in regards to your attitude towards your employer and your work.

According to the article I read earlier, employees of both genders are in favour. This isn't a day off for being a woman. It's a recognition that you are in physical pain and unable to work, just like if you had a D&V bug or similar.

And like I have commented elsewhere, it might be as simple as getting to work half and hour later than normal due to waking up in a pool of your own blood and needing to clean it up; or it might be a hideous day of endo pain and being able to do your work in the evening or weekend rather than trying to work through agonising cramps.

I'm a feminist. I still think it's a good idea. Being a feminist doesn't mean you have to be exactly like men (which we can't physically be). Equality is equal opportunity. Women can't have equal opportunity if they are coming to work and trying to function in serious pain. I've thrown up from the pain pre-children and been unable to walk. I realise this won't apply to most women. But still I feel this is a welcome move.

I don't understand this attitude - why should having periods (that sometimes require taking a day off) mean women are not taken seriously? What is feminist about denying that some women have very painful and exhausting periods that prevent them from working one or more days every month?

"This is not about employees taking more time off but working more flexibly and efficiently around their menstrual cycle and encouraging a work-life balance."

I don't see why suffering with something that only effects women is inherently weak or embarrassing?

Surely you don't have to pretend not to be female in order to be taken seriously at work?

You could be talking about a week off a month here theycallmemello. No one would take that woman seriously.

I disagree. Thankfully I've never suffered from debilitating periods but I know a couple of people who do and I don't see why the fact they are in alot of pain because of a period should negate the fact they are in pain in the first place and sometimes not in a fit state to go to work. I had a coil fitted once and did have a horrible painful 'period' following that, I told my male boss and stayed at home for a couple of days until the edge had come off the pain. Just because pain is caused by our menstruation doesn't make it any less worthy a pain. On saying all of that, it's hardly like that company are offering women the chance to just take paid sick leave, they have to make up any time taken off, so it's not exactly a free pass (and neither should it be imo).

I'm very sympathetic to people with heavy periods and have had heavy periods but not horrendous ones. They should imo be taken as sick leave. I don't think a specific period sick day is necessary - it gives the impression that women are more of a liability than workplace than men in terms of sick leave. I suppose it depends on the environment you work in too but I think overall the headlines about this today are not beneficial for women.

I'm a feminist, I'm in a corporate, high pressure career and I'd love it!

My periods range from bad to horrible and I so wish I had that whenever I throw up from the pain or am stuck in a meeting I'm chairing and realise my tampon is starting to leak.

Well, if someone is unable to work for a week then they're in a much better position if the reason for this is acknowledged as legitimate than if it isn't surely? If they work somewhere where periods are seen as an ok reason to take time off they really will be in trouble.

It should be sick leave if you have dehabilitating periods. It's terrible if you do and there should be proper recognition of it and proper treatment available.

But many women don't and it's not helpful to suggest all women need a couple of days off each month.

I have had 3 C sections and never felt labour pains but every three months or so I can be literally found crawling round the floor on my hands and knees with tears streaming down my face (sometimes for 48 hours) , I can only compare my period pain to the pain of being in labour or worse.

Luckily I run my own business so I can choose not to work if I am in agony. Unless you have felt pain like that op yabvu!

I think that for true progress to be made in the workplace there has to be an acknowledgement that women are different to men - both physically and often socially (the latter is obviously a different question). Certainly in my field there's a massive gender disparity at the top because career progression depends on a traditional male path (no time off, v long hours even after children which is possible because of a sahm). Anything that makes women more 'visible' in the workplace, and stops making them have to effectively pretend to be a man to do well is a good thing imo.

The articles I've read about this focus on tapping into the creativity and energy at other times of the month; while acknowledging that during menstruation, there are physiological changes that impact on a woman's level of performance and ability.

This is a step towards workplaces changing to become less "standardised" - no different to recognising that some people work best at 8am, others at 8pm. Overall an employer will get more out of their workforce. I don't view "period days" as sick leave, but rather a form of flexible working, which I certainly welcome.

Tbh I think if peoples periods are that bad, which I don't doubt they are, then the medical profession/medical research etc needs to be doing more to address it, and the publicity should be aimed at the medical side of the problem and trying to help cure or better it rather than just taking time off to suffer.