It’s time of the month…

Few months back their was a news which was discussed a lot. It was about ten days paid period leaves for women.

In the month of August 2020, a food delivery chain Zomato, announced of giving ten days paid leave to women as period leave yearly. This became a hot news like fire for discussion in social media. There were different views coming from people. Some said its against gender equality while others said it’s as per the needs of woman employees. Though this news became a point of discussion, we all forgot that this was not a new type of leave policy introduced by Zomato. Female government employees in the northern part of Bihar were already getting two days period leave every month, since 1992.

Some small Indian companies like Cultural Machine and Gozoop allows one day period leave on the first day of their period every month. Thus this was not a new type of leave policy for women which was introduced in India. Then why this news was made so big few months back ? It was because Zomato was the first big corporate to allow such leaves for their women employee.

The concern was about whether such leaves should be allowed or not. To this some had a view point that women should not be allowed such leaves since its against gender equality and also closes many doors of success for women. This would also give employers a reason to discriminate against women employee. They said not all woman get severe pain or cramps during their menstrual cycle. Woman who gets severe cramps and pain can avail sick leave and rest for a day or two.

But can any woman ask her employer to sanction her a sick leave every month because she is going through her monthly periods ? The answer is no, it’s very difficult to ask a male boss to sanction a leave for the above reason. Thus it would be considered as normal sick leave. Nobody gets to understand actually what happened or what the woman employee was going through.

A plea was sought by Delhi labour Union in the Delhi High Court, to grant four days paid leave to every class of woman employee, every month. It also asked to pay overtime allowance in case the woman was working during their menstruating cycle, they should also be provided with facilities for periodic rests, separate and clean toilets, and provision for sanitary napkins. It said that women who were working as daily wagers, muster roll, contractual employees, outsourced employees face many difficulties during their menstruating cycle. These women were deprived of appropriate sanitation and also they don’t have facilities of earned leave or sick leave. As per the petitioner the plea was concerned about women right to life and their dignity. This plea was not only for the benefit of the women but also for the benefit of general public.

The Delhi High Court showed its willingness towards providing such leaves to woman. It also said that it was related to human dignity and by not providing such leaves and the above facilities the authorities are depriving the employees of their basic human dignity. The court also said that, this should be practicable as soon as possible.

In India there are five companies who have such type of leave policy for their women employee. FlyMyBiz it’s a Kolkata based digital media company. Culture Machine Media Pvt.Ltd. is a Mumbai based digital Media Startup. Horses Stable News, a Bengaluru based Startup. Gozoop Online Pvt.Ltd. is a Independent digital agency specialising in brand reputation management. Zomato a food delivery chain.

Most of the female who has such leave policy in their companies, do not avail these leaves, as they says , they don’t get severe cramp or pain. So they come to the office . But if there is a need they will definitely avail it. While others who get severe pain or cramps its a relief for them.

In 2018 Tata Steel introduced a new leave policy for their female employees as “Rahat Leave”. It’s a one day leave which can be availed every month during the menstrual period.

There are many problems which we as woman face, and we don’t discuss it with others. Asking for a sick leave every month would have been a tough job. Even the person to whom you are asking for leave every month would get annoyed as we can’t get sick every month. Such kind of leave policy ,are very helpful for woman who get severe pain and cramps during their menstrual period. Woman who suffers from PCOD complains of cramps during periods, and such leaves are a great relief for them. Not only in few corporates but such leaves should be allowed both in organised and unorganised sector.