[UK] Charities call for menstrual leave for severe pain

UK charities have called on the government to follow in Spain’s footsteps and introduce leave for those who suffer from menstrual pain, BBC News reports.

Spanish politicians are in the process of approving a new draft bill to allow women with painful periods to have three days off a month.

Current UK employment law states workers should use sick leave if they need time off work.

Emma Cox from Endometriosis UK said, "We need to challenge the squeamishness and silence around menstrual health."

A spokesperson for period equality charity Bloody Good Period said, "We need to understand the experiences and challenges that people who menstruate face in the workplace, and then take steps to support them."

Studies estimate that four in five women experience menstrual pain.

If the Spanish legislation is passed, Spain will become the first European country to offer this type of leave. The state social security system will pay for the leave, not employers.

Menstrual leave forms part of a number of reproductive health reforms in the country, including changes to abortion laws. The three-day sick leave for severely painful periods would be permitted with a doctor's note and could extend to five days in extreme cases.

A spokesperson for Bloody Good Period told the BBC that beyond issuing menstrual leave more needs to be done by the government, including "improving the communications, culture and broader policy around periods in the workplace" and "ensuring employers have an understanding of the range of symptoms someone with painful periods might experience."

Emma Cox from Endometriosis UK said, "Anyone experiencing pain which means they need to be absent from work should expect to be listened to, believed, and receive support which is appropriate to the type and severity of symptoms they experience."

Very few countries around the world currently offer menstrual leave, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia are among those that do. All their laws vary widely, with the majority of countries not offering paid leave but providing extra time off outside of statutory sick leave allowances.

In Indonesia, women are allowed two days of menstrual leave a month, however, it is not in addition to sick leave.

Japanese law states that those experiencing a particularly difficult menstruation period should be given time off but the leave does not have to be paid.

In South Korea, employees are entitled to menstrual leave and those who do not take it can get additional pay, while in Taiwan three extra days a year are granted for menstruation on top of the statutory 30.

In Zambia, a policy called Mother's Day provides a legal entitlement to one day off a month for menstrual leave.

Source: BBC News

(Quotes via original reporting)

UK charities have called on the government to follow in Spain’s footsteps and introduce leave for those who suffer from menstrual pain, BBC News reports.

Spanish politicians are in the process of approving a new draft bill to allow women with painful periods to have three days off a month.

Current UK employment law states workers should use sick leave if they need time off work.

Emma Cox from Endometriosis UK said, "We need to challenge the squeamishness and silence around menstrual health."

A spokesperson for period equality charity Bloody Good Period said, "We need to understand the experiences and challenges that people who menstruate face in the workplace, and then take steps to support them."

Studies estimate that four in five women experience menstrual pain.

If the Spanish legislation is passed, Spain will become the first European country to offer this type of leave. The state social security system will pay for the leave, not employers.

Menstrual leave forms part of a number of reproductive health reforms in the country, including changes to abortion laws. The three-day sick leave for severely painful periods would be permitted with a doctor's note and could extend to five days in extreme cases.

A spokesperson for Bloody Good Period told the BBC that beyond issuing menstrual leave more needs to be done by the government, including "improving the communications, culture and broader policy around periods in the workplace" and "ensuring employers have an understanding of the range of symptoms someone with painful periods might experience."

Emma Cox from Endometriosis UK said, "Anyone experiencing pain which means they need to be absent from work should expect to be listened to, believed, and receive support which is appropriate to the type and severity of symptoms they experience."

Very few countries around the world currently offer menstrual leave, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia are among those that do. All their laws vary widely, with the majority of countries not offering paid leave but providing extra time off outside of statutory sick leave allowances.

In Indonesia, women are allowed two days of menstrual leave a month, however, it is not in addition to sick leave.

Japanese law states that those experiencing a particularly difficult menstruation period should be given time off but the leave does not have to be paid.

In South Korea, employees are entitled to menstrual leave and those who do not take it can get additional pay, while in Taiwan three extra days a year are granted for menstruation on top of the statutory 30.

In Zambia, a policy called Mother's Day provides a legal entitlement to one day off a month for menstrual leave.

Source: BBC News

(Quotes via original reporting)