Back to the menstrual leave discussion

Dear Editor,

I am writing to endorse the move to institute a ‘menstrual leave’ policy in the Jamaican workforce.

For too long the productivity of several working-class women has been hampered by their menstrual issues. Menstrual leave would be a straightforward and efficient way to solve this.

As a society, we have made significant strides in recognising the importance of equality and fairness in the workplace. However, progress isn’t linear, and we still have much work to do.

Due to the taboo nature of the topic, menstruation is often swept under the rug and ignored. Men, in particular, believe that menstruation is an irrelevant issue that women simply “have to deal with”.

Menstruation, while being a totally natural and routine occurrence, is anything but irrelevant. Most women experience a slew of problems during their periods, including heavy bleeding, cramps, headaches, exhaustion, and mood swings. Under all these conditions, how are women expected to show up for work and perform at their best level of productivity?

Employers can alleviate these problems and foster a more inclusive and supporting workplace by offering menstrual leave. This would grant women the option to take time off during their periods without fear of reprisal or a salary deduction. Not only would this help lessen their physical discomfort and pain, but it would also improve their mental health and productivity.

Menstrual leave wouldn’t be a one-sizefits-all thing. Employers would have to evaluate how it would fit into their specific organisations. Then, to prevent abuse, establish precise rules for requesting and taking menstrual leave.

The development of a more egalitarian and encouraging work environment for women would be significantly advanced by doing so.