In a progressive step, many companies have recently started prioritizing women’s comfort during periods. As on period days, many women experience mood swings and body cramps, these Indian companies have started offering women menstrual leave to enhance their overall productivity. Here are these progressive companies that have made us proud!
Companies Offering Menstrual Leaves
1. Byju’s
The famous name in the start-up domain, Byju’s offer up to 12 Period Leaves (PELs) every year to its women employees. As per the sources, one PEL is credited every month. It’s up to women employees to take either one full day off or two half-day leaves. Â
2. Zomato
Zomato has introduced up to 10 days of paid “period leave” every year as part of an attempt to eradicate menstrual stigma. All female and transgender employees are eligible for it.
3. FlyMyBiz
FlyMyBiz, a digital media company has introduced menstruation leave for its women employees, who will get one day off each month a year.Â
4. Culture Machine
In July 2017 Culture Machine, a Mumbai-based digital media startup made a headline. The company announced that it would allow its women employees to take a day off on the first day of their period. The company was inspired to adopt this policy by one of its video channels, Blush, which focuses on women’s issues and empowerment.
5. Gozoop Online Pvt LtdÂ
After Culture Machine, even Gozoop, a Mumbai-based digital media company, implemented an official menstrual leave policy that includes paid leave on the first day of the period and a work-from-home option every month.Â
6. iVIPANAN
Following Zomato’s footsteps, a Surat-based digital marketing company iVIPANAN announced the period leave policy to combat the stigma. The company said it would give 12 days of period leave per year to women employees. As per the sources, Bhautik Sheth, the founder of iVIPANAN wrote an email to his employees and said:
“In the process of giving a more healthy and happy working environment, we are announcing a monthly menstrual cycle paid leave for all our female team members from today (Sunday) with immediate effect…We keep thinking about how we can give more comfort to our team, how can we make the working environment human-friendly, how can we make the working environment healthy and friendly,”
7. Horses Stable News
Horses Stable News provides a two-day paid menstruation leave to its women employees. In addition to it, the organization also lets married men take a day off to take care of their spouses in times of stress.
8. IndustryARC
IndustryARC, a three-year-old start-up in Hyderabad, has implemented a menstrual policy that lets many of the company’s women staff take time off if they need it.
9. Wet and Dry
Understanding the challenges of periods, Wet & Dry Personal Care, a female hygiene products company introduced a ‘menstrual leave’ or ‘period leave’ policy for female employees.
“Based on medical recommendations, we are offering two days off a month for our women employees. This is to ensure that they are comfortable and don’t have to endure pain while in office,” W&D chief executive officer Pankaj Garg said. The women can also avail of leave with pay and work from home, the company said.
10. Magzter
Another company that followed the footsteps of Culture Machine is Magzter – a company based in Chennai that has begun providing paid period leave to its women staff.
“The situation is more challenging for working women in India as, more often than not, they are unable to freely discuss menstruation or the pain they go through every month with their male colleagues……We want to shun such old world taboos that demean women and their physiological needs and also make this a mainstream topic that the women should not feel delicate about – just like taking a day off for a cold or cough and that there’s nothing wrong with this as it’s normal,” Girish Ramdas Co-Founder & CEO, Magzter told TOI in an interview.
11. MathrubhumiÂ
Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam media giant, has declared menstrual leaves to its female employees. It has also expanded the policy to other sister organizations. In an interview with TOI, Mathrubhumi’s top management said that the decision taken by Culture Machine prompted them to come up with such a policy.
“It was an eye-opener as channel workers do have a stressful job and work odd hours. They often work for extended hours. We need to understand that during menstruation, they might be grinding their teeth to subdue the pain. Do not think of it as sympathy; it is more of understanding women,” firm’s joint managing director MV Shreyams Kumar told The Times Of India.
12. Swiggy
All the regular women delivery partners in Swiggy are entitled to a two-day compensated monthly period time-off. Swiggy also ensures access to sanitary facilities and safety precautions for its female delivery partners.
Do let us know what do you think about this?