Modibodi's Employees Are Now Entitled to Menstrual Leave; Here's How It Works

Should more Aussie workplaces adopt the policy?

On Wednesday, Aussie period underwear brand Modibodi announced on their Instagram that they are giving their employees paid leave explicitly for menstruation, menopause and miscarriage on top of their current sick leave entitlements.

While the move to add this policy is not the first in the world, it is one of few in Australia and starts an important conversation about whether or not more Aussie workplaces or even the government should introduce a similar policy for all staff and students who experience periods, menopause or miscarriage.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by modibodi (@modibodi)

In Modibodi’s post to Instagram, they stated that feeling discomfort or needing support should be accessible to employees, and that they should be able to honestly express those feelings.

“We’re giving employees the option to take paid leave days for either menstruation or menopause or to choose to work from home during days when they’re feeling discomfort,” they wrote in the post.

"We want our staff to be able to be honest about their experiences of menstruation, menopause and miscarriage by encouraging people to feel comfortable asking for support and understanding when they need it.”

On top of this, Modibodi also encouraged their followers to start this convo with their employer to make it more common and accessible.

But what is menstrual leave?

When it comes to menstrual leave, many people tend to wonder exactly what it includes and why people who have periods might need it at all.

The Cova Project, an Aussie charity that provides safe sanitary care to women in Africa, describes that menstrual leave can be used in three different ways, and it’s not just about taking a day off work.

“If you are at work in an office and you are experiencing menstrual discomfort, then you can get up and move freely. You can change your position. You could go sit on a couch, lie down with your laptop or even have a bit of a rest,” the Cova Project states on their website.

“The second component is if you do wake up with some menstrual pain and discomfort and you feel as though you can work but work remotely, stay in your jim jams and work at home, then you have every right to do so.

“And the third is if the discomfort is too great for you to work on that particular day, then you can have one day of menstrual leave."

For some people, period pain, menopause and other symptoms can be very debilitating, particularly for those living with diseases like endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, for others it might be completely bearable. The point of menstrual leave is to be available for those who might need it, and not everyone who has a period will use it.

Additionally, miscarriage can be a very physically and mentally traumatic experience, so those who experience it may need to take several days off work to grieve or recover.

Why is menstrual leave a touchy subject?

Unfortunately, the discussion around menstrual leave is often controversial for two reasons. Firstly, some people might consider the suggestion for leave offensive because they assume that it implies that people who have periods are weak.

Secondly, other people believe that it is an unfair and unequal advantage that one group of people get, and another doesn’t.

Despite these arguments, it’s important to recognise that people who have periods do have a different experience to those who do not, and may feel greater or more regular instances of discomfort and interruption to daily life.

Additionally, the implication that it suggests people who have periods are weak is just, ahem, incorrect. Instead, it’s a compassionate way of acknowledging that sometimes people have bad days or uncomfortable experiences that they just can’t work through.

On top of all this, Forbes even confirmed that employers who gave staff the option for period leave found that their employees were more satisfied, and productivity increased at work.

So, should more workplaces adopt a period leave policy?

Whether you’re experiencing period symptoms at school, uni or work, it’s always super reassuring to know that your employer or teacher has your back and sympathises with any discomfort you might experience.

While it looks like menstrual, menopausal or miscarriage leave in every workplace in Australia is still a little while away, Modibodi’s move for their business is still a huge step in the right direction.

If this is something you think your workplace or school should adopt, have a conversation with your employer or teacher, or even start a discussion online.

Header Image: Modibodi