Menstrual Leave Policy

Lawyers and activists have expressed varied views after the Supreme Court of India declined to entertain a plea seeking a nationwide menstrual leave policy, with some backing voluntary provisions while others stressing stronger legal safeguards to protect women's health and dignity. The apex court on Friday refused to entertain the PIL, observing that no one would give them jobs in such a scenario and that such a provision would unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes. Talking to PTI, senior advocate Karuna Nundy said a limited provision, such as one paid day of menstrual leave, could be a practical starting point. "The range of menstrual pain, from common cramps to endometriosis, is suffered by women regardless of whether they are studying or working. So the policies should address the woman's health challenge and the variable context," she said. "One paid day of menstrual leave, to be taken as required, would be a good start. It's like maternity leave, if you don't have a ba

The Supreme Court warned that making menstrual leave mandatory could hurt women's career prospects, and asked the Centre to consider the petitioner's request for a policy after consulting stakeholders

The Karnataka government, last month, passed an order mandating one day paid menstrual leave per month to women employees aged between 18 and 52 years working in permanent, contractual and outsourced

Acer India has introduced a menstrual leave policy that would give female employees one additional day of paid leave per month, as the tech firm joined a growing roster of companies that are looking to foster a more supportive workplace and champion gender-inclusivity. In a statement, the company said its latest move would enable female staff to prioritise their menstrual health without impacting their regular leave entitlements. "Acer India has introduced 'Matrika', a menstrual leave policy to foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace...Under this policy, female employees will be entitled to one additional day of paid leave each month...," Acer India said. According to the company, the move aligns with Acer India's broader vision of creating a workplace that champions gender inclusivity, health, and holistic employee support. "A workplace that truly supports its people goes beyond policiesit fosters understanding, respect, and real change. With the 'Matrika' menstrual leave

L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan announced a one-day paid menstrual leave for women employees in the parent company, benefiting around 5,000 staff; subsidiaries remain excluded

A recent report has revealed that 44 per cent of women fear work-life imbalance, particularly those with 5-10 years of experience managing both professional and personal responsibilities

The state government has also formed an 18-member panel tasked with drafting the Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products bill

The Supreme Court said that this issue involves several policy considerations and should not be addressed by the judiciary

The Sikkim High Court registry said that women staff members are entitled to take 2-3 days of menstrual leave each month

Union Minister Smriti Irani warned that menstrual leave could lead to discrimination against women in the workforce

Around 73 per cent of women want companies to allow them to take menstrual leaves while 86.6 per cent are in favour of a menstrual-friendly workplace where hygiene methods and support infrastructure are available to women, according to a recent study. The Menstrual Hygiene Survey 2023, conducted by Everteen, a feminine hygiene brand, also revealed that 71.7 per cent of the participants in the survey do not want the menstrual leaves to be paid, fearing that it may make companies reluctant to hire female employees. Nearly 10,000 women in the age group of 18 to 35 years participated in the survey that was conducted in multiple cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna. The survey report was released ahead of the global Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28. "While 73 per cent of women want that companies should allow them to take menstrual leaves, 71.7 per cent of them do not want these to be paid and fear that it may make ..

Simpl's leave policy states that the adoption leave is also applicable to LGBTQIA couples

Zomato's announcement led to a social media storm that raised various questions. In this podcast we try to find what companies think

Handful of private Indian companies have started such policies in recent months