This Indian company is letting women stay home on the first day of their period

The question of menstrual leave for women may still hang over Britain but India is the latest country to try out the scheme.

One company based in Mumbai is offering female employees the chance to stay at home – and get paid – on the first day of their period.

The news is a godsend for any woman who has suffered from severe cramps but has been too scared to ask their boss to go home.

The company, Culture Machine Media, released a video showing some of its female employees talking about how they feel on the first day of their period; the time when most women usually experience pain.

The women were unaware at the time of filming that the scheme would be introduced.

Many reported experiencing severe pain and mood swings with others admitting to coming up with an excuse in order to take time off work.

What’s clear is that each and every one of the women featured were in favour of having the option to take the day off.

The company has also set up a Change.org petition calling for First Day of Period (FOP) Leave Policy to be implemented across India.

“It’s time we address that women menstruate and it is okay to take a day off to get through the discomfort,” the company wrote. So far, their petition has garnered over 25,000 signatures.

Culture Clash Media are far from the first company to try out the policy of menstrual leave. Nike has been allowing women to take time off during their period since 2007.

A number of countries including Japan, Zambia and South Korea have made menstrual leave a legal requirement.

Italy is also currently debating the issue in parliament. If passed, women in Italy would be entitled to up to three days paid menstrual leave a year.

The law would also make Italy the first country in Europe to adopt the scheme.

Of course, menstrual leave has had its fair share of criticism with men complaining of unfairness and even some women worrying that companies would be discouraged from hiring female staff.

A few select companies in the UK have tried out the scheme but no wider plan for the nation has been talked about.

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