Period Leave: City Corporate Leaders Comment

July 13, 2017

As Pune365 joins the league of being one of the first few media companies in India ( and the first in our city) to offer an optional menstrual leave, we reached out to notable organisations within the city to ask them if they would implement such a policy.

We spoke to these women corporate leaders to get their views on this.

Kiran Bhat, Managing Director, Xebec

According to me, not many women face a problem during menstruation but we are a very humane and inclusive company. We are human and we have human conditions. We are very considerate employers and we will certainly consider giving a leave if there is a medical condition. At the same time, it is unlikely that we will make it into a policy and implement it.

Minoti Makim, Owner and Founder, Carpe Diem

“I only have female employees. I will definitely not implement such a policy in my organisation. It’s regressive to think that women need a day off for their ‘first day’ unless they have a serious medical condition. We live in an age of tampons, panty liners, pads, pain relievers and access to so many conveniences that our ancestors did not and yet, of course, WE need this special consideration. If these policies are adopted it will be a setback for women and will enhance employment bias, the glass ceiling will be higher, we truly will be accepting the ‘weaker sex’ label and endorsing it ourselves! Employers will reconsider hiring women and where will that leave us? Sorry, we are strong vital women, we aren’t blushing violets who will be home with our hot water bags! Bring on the bleeding. We are armed and ready! I am 46, I’ve menstruated since the age of 13, that’s 33 years, terribly painful cramps, excessive bleeding, PMS and periods which is not easy but it isn’t a reason to not work, work out or live! For god’s sake, this is the biology we have, it’s not a handicap unless someone has an aggravated medical condition. Many men faint at the sight of blood and we bleed every month, confronted with this sign of fertility, life, and so much more we deal with it with dignity and grace. This makes us the stronger sex. Then why are we championing these regressive policies?”

Sheetal Ramkumar, Co-founder, White Global

While we may not consider leave we would leave it to the female employee to opt to work from home since that would make her more comfortable during these painful days. The reason we may not consider paid leave is as this may be looked at as gender bias by male counterparts, and paint women as less capable. Work from home would allow them the flexibility and comfort to work in case of critical assignments at work. I have mixed feelings about this policy, like I said earlier this should not become another reason for women to face discrimination at work and get penalised in terms of career advancement. It’s a good move if organisations can live up to the empathy expected from them for women during their menses and be flexible.