Spain leads on menstrual leave
by Róisín McKane
 
A recent study found that almost 14% of women reported absenteeism during their period, with 3.5% reporting period related absenteeism month on month.
A recent study found that almost 14% of women reported absenteeism during their period, with 3.5% reporting period related absenteeism month on month.

The Spanish public sector has been described as a trailblazer after a number of local municipal administrations announced that they will provide menstrual leave for their employees.

 

The municipalities are among the first in Europe to offer these arrangements, in a move to strike a better balance between workplace demands and period pains.

 

Last June, the Catalan city of Girona agreed menstrual leave availability for some 1,300 municipal employees. Soon after, following requests from unions, the Catalan municipalities of Ripoll and Les Borges Blanques announced similar policies.

 

And in September, the Spanish city of Castellón de la Plana followed suit, signing an agreement with unions representing its 1,500 municipal workers.

 

Under the new arrangements, workers who have periods will be entitled to eight hours menstrual leave a month, with the caveat that any time used must be recovered within a span of three months. The policy applies to women, trans men and non-binary individuals.

 

Menstruation has been negatively affecting women in the workplace for decades. A recent study found that almost 14% of women reported absenteeism during their period, with 3.5% reporting period related absenteeism month on month.

 

While period policies have long been enshrined in law in many parts of Asia, employers in Europe showed reluctance to implement such policies until now.

 

Fórsa’s head of equality Ashley Connolly commended the Spanish public sector as a step in the right direction.

 

“Many workers choose between working while grappling with severe menstrual symptoms or using sick days or holidays. We need to break through the stigma and encourage a workplace culture that allows greater flexibility for workers suffering period pain. This is better for workers and better for the employer,” she said.

 

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