Hi all
I saw this and thought wow that must be a first, what do you think to this idea?
Bristol firm plans to give women time off for periods
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Replies
Surely if symptoms are difficult to manage for an individual it should be managed like any other long term chronic condition, with a plan in place for that individual specifically.
Most women I know are able to cope month on month without taking time off, so why adopt a blanket approach?
It's a bit like giving all men a day off after their football team loses, because as we know all men are the same and all love football?
I agree Adam, I think that's a good idea. I don't think there needs to be a specific 'period policy' but that female employees should be made aware that severe pain resulting from menstruation can be classed as a chronic condition that needs a support plan.
I think the culture in many situations tends to be that 'period pain' is not serious and not a proper medical condition, so I think it's important to let female employees know that it is and that they can be supported by their employer just like anyone else. You probably don't need a whole separate policy for it though.
A good question Adam what does everyone else think on this one?
Spotted this Twitter Poll over on @HRGrapevine - seems the majority agree with no vote. Having seen first hand the pain and discomfort that periods can cause for severe cases this has to be looked at on a case by case basis in my opinion. Agree with your point Christine about unable to tell the truth and the stigma attached to this - more openness and acceptance required.
I can't make my mind up about this one.
Do we need a specific policy regarding periods? Surely this should just be a common sense policy that applies to men and women- if you're in pain, don't come to work. In a time when women are still facing unequal pay and discrimination because of issues like maternity leave, do we need another policy that makes us stand out from men, another reason for employers to think that women need more time off?
But on the other hand, it's a sad truth that, I believe, many women would feel uncomfortable admitting that they need a sick day because they're suffering from period pain, especially if they have a male employer.
I think it's crucial that if women are in serious pain because of their period they should feel comfortable explaining that to their employer without fear of discrimination or contempt. It shouldn't be a taboo subject, it's just something that happens. Period pain is no different to migraine pain, so women shouldn't feel they're unable to tell the truth about why they need time off.
In which case, perhaps this sort of policy would be useful in certain organisations until such time as men and women feel more at ease with the issue of menstruation and can be more open and accepting of it.
Thanks for your thoughts yes its a tricky one! And as you say you would hope that the company had the right culture where individuals would feel comfortable taking time off if they were in pain but sadly as we both know I suspect as you say that's not the case in many organisations.
All the best Sarah