Should
Women Get Paid Period Leave?
Have
you ever been sitting at your desk at work and suddenly felt a wave of period
cramps? If you have, you are certainly not alone. Work days are long and
difficult enough without your period begging you to curl up on the couch with a
hot water bottle and Netflix.
We
have some exciting news for you. Some countries are now taking action and
providing paid period leave to women! Yes, please, and I'll take some! Although
many other countries are still far from accomplishing this, it is a step in the
right direction.
Women
In the workforce and periods
Periods
are a gift of life, but they can also bring with them some unpleasant side
effects, such as period pains. This can substantially obstruct daily tasks.
According
to a 2012 study, 20% of women have periods that are so painful that they are
unable to work. We all know what that means: no job limits our financial and
recreational opportunities.
So,
what are the options?
Standing
up for period equity
Women
shouldn't be judged for receiving their period or experiencing symptoms that
make them uncomfortable, and it appears that the rest of the world is finally
catching on. Period equity - an equal right that recognises the value of a
period, the care items required, and the fact that, yes, periods come with some
serious cramping and we may all need a day off - is now being fought for by
women.
Voices
are beginning to be heard, thanks to movements like the 'HeForShe' or 'Times
Up' campaigns, and the same can be said for period awareness.
If
your workplace does not yet provide paid period leave, you can help urge them
to do so by stocking bathrooms with free pads and tampons, just as they do
toilet paper. According to a poll, 86% of women started their period in public
and had no access to pads or tampons. That means these women most likely took
time from work to go shopping for pads and tampons. Talk about inconvenient and
time-consuming. We think that all women should have easy access to pads and
tampons, and we assist businesses to achieve this by supplying their bathrooms
with 100 per cent organic cotton pads and tampons.
Countries
joining the fight
Italy
is likely to become the first Western country to implement paid period leave,
which will include three paid days off per month. The paid period leave is only
offered to women who have dysmenorrhea, which must be confirmed to their
employer with a medical certificate, which must be reissued every year.
Period
discomfort in the pelvis or abdomen is known as dysmenorrhea; however, women
might also feel back pain, diarrhoea, and nausea.
While
many people appreciate the Italian government for passing a law that recognizes
menstrual pain, detractors fear that it would exacerbate gender disparity in
the workplace and have a negative impact on employment procedures.
Maternity
discrimination is already prevalent in Italy, with "just 61 per cent of
Italian women working, significantly below the European norm of 72 per cent (71
per cent in the United States)." (The Washington Post's Anna Momigliano)
Menstrual
leave is currently in effect in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
Menstrual leave has been a legal right for women in Japan since 1947!
(Congratulations, Japan!) Despite the fact that the four countries' menstrual
leave policies differ (Taiwan only offers three days per year against Japan's
two days per month), they all understand that menstrual leave should be treated
separately from regular sick leave.
Many
women, however, continue to take unpaid sick leave for menstruation out of fear
of being stigmatized if they take paid menstrual leave. Countries aren't the
only ones who have made menstruation leave mandatory in the workplace.
"Nike implemented menstruation leave in 2007 and requires business
partners to sign a contract of understanding to ensure they uphold Nike's
standards." (Independent, Kayleigh Lewis)
It's
a start, and perhaps a movement that will transform the way people think about
periods in the workplace.
What
if I don't have paid period leave?
Have
terrible periods and menstrual cramps but don't have paid period leave? Here
are some suggestions for reducing the effects of uncomfortable moments in the
workplace:
To
relieve menstruation cramps, try herbal tea.
Getting some activity over your lunch break can help you feel better and reduce pain. Massage with essential oils to relieve discomfort
To
aid with cramps, improve your nutrition - A low-fat diet reduces overall body
inflammation.
So,
how do you feel about paid leave? Should women be entitled to it without
prejudice in the workplace? Periods are an important part of our life that
should be celebrated by both men and women. Let's give paid period leave a big
thumbs up!