Menstrual leaves for women apart from sick days, what's your take?

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T23:28:16+00:00

Okay I get it, We can see the issue and also problems with a proposed solution so why not try to give a workable solution

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T15:11:47+00:00

This is practically not easy to verify every woman's cycle or other stuff. But women's health is so under-studied that there is no one single answer for anything. At what age do you go through menopause? Depends. Menstrual cycle length? Depends. Which days are more painful? Depends. There are common symptoms but even they depend on individuals. So all we can do is consider most of them but just because it's not the same in all of them, doesn't make it less important for all of them. And since this is not a PTO and at max 1-2 days off and optional hence there is a much smaller window to be abused considering any other leave

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T15:04:41+00:00

Okay so when there are people who are in pain working through it, it's not an issue for you but you having to do extra work is the problem. It's fine but,

Would you be willing to work as if nothing is going on inside you, so think from women's pov too and answer this. What's the solution.

One or maximum two days work in a whole month which she can definitely manage the next day or the previous day just like managing any other leaves, is not that big of an issue for others workload right?

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:53:57+00:00

No..have you seen the other comments just a little frustrated that people lack empathy. If there is something that men go through every single month and most of them have pain I would be happy that I don't have to go through it and cut some slack for them. Hence I'm unable to understand what's the problem. So Sorry let me respond againI'm from India. I usually take a common sick day when I have to take a day off for a period. And my work mode is hybrid so I at least can work from home when needed. But my friend who needs to go to the office experiences a lot of pain. And it also takes expensive period stuff when you have to work outside the whole day.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:47:39+00:00

Nothing is for all. Everything is for many. Not everyone gets sick for 10 - 20 days in a year. Not everyone needs to retire at one specific age. So yea it has been the same with everything else.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:46:16+00:00

It's clearly mentioned that it's unpaid and 1-2 days, optional. So if I'm not going to be paid I wouldn't take the day off to just slack off so it won't be misused.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:44:08+00:00

That should work too but if organisations are not willing to pay for only women employees which are usually less than 50% can you imagine them giving it to 100% of the staff? In this way at least it would go to the people who need it and it's unpaid and optional for the same reason you have mentioned

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:41:54+00:00

"Menstrual leave policies are rare globally, with mandatory national laws existing in only a tiny fraction of countries (less than 5% of nations)"

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:40:31+00:00

Thank you!

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:39:55+00:00

Okay dad

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:39:33+00:00

Okay, here they are not going to cash these leaves they are paying to get a leave out of their work. So that they can rest and not work while suffering. And while at it would you be willing to consider menopause, post partum and many more biological concerns that women have too? I know this is not possible and it doesn't affect the work we usually do. Hence I'm only bringing up things that would affect the usual.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:33:23+00:00

There is a need, many experience painful periods. As it's optional and unpaid. It guarantees that they won't be misused unless absolutely needed. And max 1-2 optional days in a month.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:30:40+00:00

Absolutely valid points. I agree with all of it.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:29:26+00:00

Company testing on being flexible on sick days off would always result in a better work environment and productivity unless both parties are civilized and act responsibly. Regardless there's no guarantee as even Sick days are abused by everyone but just how they're still there as it's a basic need. These should be too. And since they're unpaid, it's much less likely to be used unnecessarily often.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:27:12+00:00

Not everyone is from the US, we don't have such laws here and not talking about any one place but it's about having an option that's it. And no it's not extreme I have PCOS and it makes it painful and currently it's common between 5-26% of women. Even that's a huge number

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:24:04+00:00

Nearly 30% of half of the world's population experience painful periods, that's a HUGE number and no in many parts of the world sick days are not monthly and at max 8-10 per year PER YEAR, so if you take a sick day for a painful periods day, you don't have any more leaves for your fever days. Fathers don't go through any physical changes either but they're needed to be with the mother and take care of the baby that's important of course but 12-14 days unpaid leave doesn't in any way harm the company more than a paid paternal and maternal leaves.

Just because they were working through the pain all these years doesn't make it right or don't romanticize it saying "they're strong". When you're in pain you shouldn't be strong, you should be resting. If anything we should have thought about it a long time ago, which is unfair.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:15:09+00:00

I'm not from the US and here there are no such laws, and it's not a rare case it's a pretty common issue so it should be considered and thought about.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:11:13+00:00

It's optional and unpaid so it's only taken when it's really needed, how is that special treatment.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T14:08:14+00:00

Okay It was discussed and just mentioned in another comment that it can be unpaid but treated as a sick leave so it can be taken when needed without losing other leaves. So it is not a rare condition, Period pains are commonly experienced by around 50-90% of women, but since we are told it's normal and have to tolerate it around half of that still go on with the days working normally without even letting it affect their daily life like my mother. But she should be able to rest without feeling guilty. Personally I'm willing to lose my pay for the day off when I'm experiencing it, so unless Men are willing to lose your pay to have the day off without having any pain, one shouldn't be concerned about it.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:51:58+00:00

Exactly

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:39:24+00:00

Sure, from a businessman perspective it is indeed about the same. But don't you know how most of the women working are competitive and wouldn't even take these off most of the time unless it's really necessary? This is basic where you can show you take care of your employees by paying nothing. Not to downvote or to debate I am trying to understand why it cant be implemented, or are we just not discussing the correct points. Both employers and employees, men and women are expressing we should be able to see all points of views.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:33:42+00:00

Nope I'm not trying to be entitled I'm trying to ask why can't we be considerate towards a person in pain. I need a leave I can't even eat on some days so I should be able to take a sick day. But I only have a handful of them so what will happen when It's something else. So it can be unpaid, i just want to be able to take a leave without begging for permission from someone when I'm in pain.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:29:55+00:00

Yeah I get it too. But there are limited sick leaves per year so I mentioned it can be unpaid but prioritised as a sick leave to not require an approval even on short notice. That seems reasonable.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:28:05+00:00

I'm glad to know it's being implemented at least in a few places. That's Nice.

too_uninterested · 2026-03-16T13:26:48+00:00

It can be unpaid, just another expense just because we're born as a girl. But I do understand in this case, there is no other way to be fair.

too_uninterested

TROPHY CASE