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.

I suffer with bad period pain and heavy bleeding monthly. I can cope with it at work just stock up on ibuprofen and super heavy tampax. However, every so often I have a period where I feel unwell. Weak, headachy, tired and not with it. On these days I'm no use to anyone and am definitely better in bed!

When I was at school I was off every month, the pain was awful, I was being sick constantly and also used to pass out, the doctor put me on the pill and that fixed it.

@formerbabe why SHOULDNT sanitary products be free?

Most of these countries you have mentioned which already have menstrual leave are not normally those most closely associated with women's rights.

Men do not have to do anything.

Women need advocates it seems to acknowledge what they are going through, but if if is not a man thing, women have to put up with it ..

I hate this. And it is 2020. OMG.

Yes. Even three days a year would be helpful for me. I suffer terribly and the sick policy where I work is very strict so to avoid warnings I have to use leave. On the rare occasions when my periods are manageable I wouldn’t begrudge other women using it when I wouldn’t need to that month. Fantastic idea.

@Bluntness100 other women have talked here about flooding. Stop telling me to go to the Doctor. I already said I have been, he gave me a thorough check , and he told me that everything is fine.

I find you to be really dismissive, you are inmediately telling anyone who feels pain to "go to the doctor".

Many women have pain from their normal monthly cycle. Menstrual cramps ARE painful. That is a scientific fact

No.

You can take sick leave for any day you're too unwell to work. Some companies pay more than others for this.

You can request flexible working for ANY reason if you have more than 6 months service.

Not all women by any means have difficult periods.

Employers should support women who have difficult periods to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Line managers should be confident to have confidential and supportive conversations with their female staff who have difficult periods.

If period symptoms are extremely debilitating, they can be classed as a disability.

All employers should be supportive of all staff with health issues.

Women in this country have good maternity leave.

Let's leave it at that.

[quote Sarahpaula]@AramintaLee I am very happy to hear that. I am glad you get to work in a place that is comfortable for you[/quote]
My Manager is male as well... fortunately one with a good understanding of how awful periods can be (I think he has 2 daughters)

I think flexible working should be available for all women over their period. I appreciate that's not always possible, but if Covid has shown us anything... it's that a lot of people can work just as well from home.

[quote Nameandgamechange123]@formerbabe why SHOULDNT sanitary products be free?[/quote]
Disposable sanitary products should not be free. Reusable ones maybe.

Many women have pain from their normal monthly cycle. Menstrual cramps ARE painful. That is a scientific fact

What’s with the womansplaining about periods? This is largely a forum full of women, most of whom will have or still be menstruating. WE KNOW PERIOD PAINS EXIST.

As for free sanitary products, I’d only support that for reusable ones

Me too - free, reusable sanitary products AND a society that encourages women to take time off if they need it. Amazing.

I have endometriosis. I know all about painful, heavy periods.

And I believe this will be just one more reason that could be used against women to justify holding us back still further than is already the case.

I'm with the 2 PPs who made the points that gynaecological care in this country is insufficient - doubtless because it doesn't affect men - and that access to adequate toileting facilities is essential. To me, 'mixed sex' and 'gender neutral' facilities do not qualify as adequate.

@MadameBlobby have you read the thread? I said that, because she keeps telling me to go to the fucking doctor, because I said that my periods are painful.

Periods can be painful in and of themselves @Bluntness100 stop telling me to go to the fucking doctor!!

No, but women shouldn't be penalised for using sick leave if they occasionally can't come to work and it should be covered by disability legislation if it causes regular impairment, particularly where the need for time at home is fairly predictable and reasonable adjustments might let women work around it.

@MadameBlobby

Many women have pain from their normal monthly cycle. Menstrual cramps ARE painful. That is a scientific fact

What’s with the womansplaining about periods? This is largely a forum full of women, most of whom will have or still be menstruating. WE KNOW PERIOD PAINS EXIST.

It’s also a thread full of ‘women’ saying debilitating periods are extremely rare - so much so that they’re convinced they know more about the OP’s medical problems than her own doctor.

Absolutely not.

No one needs to suffer... there is help out there.
And how can we claim equality if we ask for it?! Equal means equal.

@lljkk

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.

Masks have been successfully introduced in many Asian countries but don't seem to be catching on here so I wouldn't get your hopes up

No it would put employers off hiring women. More flexible working arrangements would be better.

@notregistered

Absolutely not.

No one needs to suffer... there is help out there.
And how can we claim equality if we ask for it?! Equal means equal.

What does equal mean though?

Imagine if men had periods - would be absolutely standard, 7 days every month, special hospitals they could go to..

@Sarahpaula - you seem so contrary. Posters are saying that too many women are not listened to and fobbed off by the doctors telling them that their extremely painful/heavy periods are normal when they absolutely are not. Yet you're getting annoyed at them for pointing this out and suggesting you get a second opinion! The more of your comments I read the more I'm convinced this is a goady wind up.

Sarah Paula. I agree with you. And yes I do.
I think we should push for this.

In his quirky way my own dad (now passed on) always used to say women should have double the amount of toilets as men as they had more reasons to go. Ergo more leave too.

And re flooding. GP did nothing. Hospital did nothing. I was supposed to accept it as the 'norm'. It wasn't I couldn't walk twenty minutes before changing.

Yes I think that’s a great idea! Mine are awful and my job involves standing all day and that can be So hard with terrible period pain.
Not everyone can take mini pill etc to stop their periods.