Do you think that we should get menstrual leave?

[Sarahpaula]

I have had such a terrible period this month. I was in so much pain. I feel so weak and tired. I know that many women feel like this. Do you think we should have an entitlement to menstrual leave from work?

Some countries already have menstrual leave in place. Mainly in Asia, from what I can see.

Here is an article:

in Taiwan, menstrual leave legislation was amended as recently as 2013. It guarantees women three days of menstrual leave a year on top of the 30 days half-paid sick leave given to all workers.
The extra three days came after a coalition of politicians claimed that incorporating menstrual leave into regular sick leave would be a violation of women’s rights. Indonesian women, too, are allowed two days a month menstrual leave and South Korean workers AND students are entitled to take days off when they’ve got their period as sick leave.

No, unless it is really bad.

I can see why not would be good (fellow sufferer) but I can’t see it working. Plus 3 days? Not much use. I’d like to see more working from home wage people aren’t 100%

As someone who experienced terrible flooding- if it's that bad you really need to go to your GP.

No. But we should have easy, regular access to toilets, outside of normal break times if needed.

Usually the 1st couple of days I have had bad cramps and id love to stay in bed and not go to work, would be nice to have the option

I think if menstrual leave has been successfully introduced in some countries in Asia, it could be introduced here.

I read another article, it said that female sudents in a school in Asia are allowed to choose to sit exams on a date when they do not have their periods.

I just think that menstruation should be so much more respected in the UK. And of course sanitary products should be free

2 or 3 days/year isn't much.
So the question is, why can people cope most months without taking leave, but sometimes they can't. I'd like to have more support for making all periods easier to cope with rather than be so debilitating sometimes.

This company also announced menstrual leave this year:

Zomato, one of India’s largest food delivery companies, made international headlines this week when its CEO Deepinder Goyal announced a menstrual leave policy for all female and transgender employees. Employees will be permitted to take 10 days off per year as menstrual leave.

The only reason this can’t happen is because men would kick up such a fuss that they weren’t getting ‘equality’.

@lljkk some countries/companies have implemented more than 2-3 days. The company I mentioned above has given female employees ten days of menstrual leave per year

Depends.
Some women don’t get any pain, their mood doesn’t change too much etc.

For some (like my sister), the only thing they can do is lie in bed and cry for 5 days a month.

So yes, I do think some women should get leave.

No. Three days won’t be much use to people and sick leave could be used. More than 3 days and it will give employers another reason not to employ women. Also who would pay for it?

No. Why on earth would any business every hire a woman if they were at risk of having to give them paid days off every month in addition to normal levels of leave when they could hire a man for the same cost. The laughable 3 days a year offered in these countries is simply virtue signalling in most cases, as it isn't sufficient time to be of any real use.

Sounds brilliant! I manage my pain as best I can with heat patches, tens machines and ibuprofen but having the option to stay in bed on the occasions where it really makes life impossible would be fantastic.

PREmenstrual leave would be more helpful to me!

I agree but I have severe endometriosis and adenomyosis. Horrendous pain fatigue and nausea.

What about women who don't have periods (hysterectomy/contraception/menopause etc)? Or even women who have easy periods? Seems a bit OTT to say all women get this extra leave when loads won't even need it.

I think there should be better access to treatments to help those who suffer with their periods but I don't think automatically assuming period=unable to function is helpful to anyone.

I definitely think it should be taken more seriously.

I personally don’t suffer badly with my periods (yet). However I know some women suffer terribly.

No, we can use sick leave if necessery.

Of course not

No.

I think that doctors should stop being dismissive about period pain and excess bleeding. There’s no reason for girls and women to suffer through it. There are solutions out there.

And of course sanitary products should be free

Why?

No.

I don't have periods, I choose to take the mini pill to stop them. So I wouldn't need to take menstrual leave. I'd be pretty annoyed at having to pick up the slack if other people were having a couple of days off every month.

Absolutely not.
No sensible business would hire women if they had to give even more time off.

And what if you don’t get period pain? How would they know? You would just be getting an extra 3 days holiday

It would be another reason to discriminate against female employees.

I get bad periods, but you just cope, as does anyone with any kind of disability or health issue.