Menstrual leave is a type of
leave
Leave may refer to:
* Permission (disambiguation)
** Permitted absence from work
*** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee
*** Annual leave, allowance of time away ...
where a person may have the option to take paid or unpaid leave from their employment if they are
menstruating
The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs a ...
and are unable to go to work because of this.
[ Throughout its history, menstrual leave has been associated with controversy and discrimination against women, with very few countries enacting policies; it is associated with low uptake in those countries that have enacted policies.][ It is seen by some as a criticism of women's work efficiency or as ]sexism
Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but it primarily affects women and girls.There is a clear and broad consensus among academic scholars in multiple fields that sexism refers primari ...
. Supporters of menstrual leave policies compare its function to that of maternity leave
Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries. The term "parental leave" may include maternity, Paternity (law), paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and ...
and view it as a promoter of gender equality.
Background
Some women experience a condition called dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea, also known as period pain, painful periods or menstrual cramps, is pain during menstruation. Its usual onset occurs around the time that menstruation begins. Symptoms typically last less than three days. The pain is usually in the ...
that causes pain during menstruation
Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hor ...
. Up to 80% of women do not experience problems sufficient to disrupt daily functioning as a result of menstruation, although they may report having some issues prior to menstruation. Symptoms interfere with normal life, qualifying as premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. Symptoms resolve around the time menstrual bleeding begins. Different women experienc ...
, in 20 to 30% of women. In 3 to 8%, symptoms are severe. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder characterized by emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in menstruating women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The symptoms ...
(PMDD) is a severe and disabling form of premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. Symptoms resolve around the time menstrual bleeding begins. Different women experienc ...
affecting 1.8β5.8% of menstruating women.[ Code: 625.4 (N94.3)]
History
A menstrual leave policy was first applied in some job sectors in post-Revolutionary Russia at the turn of the 20th century; because of resulting discrimination against female workers, the policy was removed in 1927.[
A girls' school in the south ]India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
had granted its students menstrual leave as early as 1912.
In the 1920s, Japanese labor unions started to demand leave (seiri kyuka) for their female workers. In 1947, a law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
was brought into force by the Japanese Labor Standards that allowed menstruating women to take days off work. Debate
Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...
continues as to whether it is a medical necessity
Medical necessity is a legal doctrine in the United States related to activities that may be justified as reasonable, necessary, and/or appropriate based on evidence-based clinical standards of care. In contrast, unnecessary health care lacks such ...
or a discriminatory measure.
Challenges
There is stigma related to menstrual leave; according to Levitt and Barnack-Tavlaris (2020), it may perpetuate stereotypes and further the medicalization of menstruation. Taking leave may require telling managers who are males about something the woman to believe to be a personal issue. It may portray women as less able than men and could therefore lead to further discrimination against women. One suggestion to remove the stigma is to provide additional medical leave for people of all genders.
By region
Asia
In Indonesia, under the Labor Act No. 13 in 2003, women have a right to two days of menstrual leave per month though these are not additional leaves.
In Japan, since 1947, Article 68 of the Labour Standards Law states "When a woman for whom work during menstrual periods would be specially difficult has requested leave, the employer shall not employ such woman on days of the menstrual period." While Japanese law requires that a woman going through especially difficult menstruation be allowed to take leave, it does not require companies to provide paid leave or extra pay for women who choose to work during menstruation.
In South Korea, female employees are entitled to menstrual leave according to the Article 71 of the Labour Standards Law, and are ensured additional pay if they do not take the menstrual leave that they are entitled to.
In Taiwan, the Act of Gender Equality in Employment gives women three days of "menstrual leave" per year, which will not be calculated toward the 30 days of "common sick leave", giving women up to 33 days of "health-related leaves" per year. The extra three days do not come with half-pays once a woman employee exceeds the regulated 30.
Europe
In Europe, as of 2021, there was no country with a national menstrual leave.[ A proposal by the ]Italian Parliament
The Italian Parliament ( it, Parlamento italiano) is the national parliament of the Italian Republic. It is the representative body of Italian citizens and is the successor to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy (1861β1943), the transitiona ...
to introduce a menstrual leave policy in 2017 sparked debate in Europe on how menstrual health impacts women in the workforce. The bill would have introduced a policy for companies to offer three days paid leave for women who suffer severe menstrual cramps; the policy was not enacted.[
]
Africa
In Zambia, as of 2015, women are legally entitled to a day off each month due to their menstrual leave policy, known as "Mother's Day". If a woman employee is denied this entitlement, she can rightfully prosecute her employer.
Corporate policies
Coexist, a Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
community interest firm, introduced a "period policy" in order to give women more flexibility and a healthier work environment. Hoping to break down the menstruation taboo, Coexist became the first company in the United Kingdom to implement this policy.
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...
has been widely reported as supporting menstrual leave wherever it operates, but this policy was misrepresented by the media; Nike follows the local labor laws where it operates.[King S. (2021) Menstrual Leave: Good Intention, Poor Solution. In: Hassard J., Torres L.D. (eds) ''Aligning Perspectives in Gender Mainstreaming. Aligning Perspectives on Health, Safety and Well-Being.'' Springer, Cham. βThe code's reference to menstrual leave was misinterpreted by the media as meaning 'all female NIKE employees are entitled to paid time off work for menstruation' (e.g. Shipley, 2016).β]
References
External links
{{wikt, menstruation
Menstrual leave 'good for companies'
Leave
Leave may refer to:
* Permission (disambiguation)
** Permitted absence from work
*** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee
*** Annual leave, allowance of time away ...
Leave of absence
Women's rights