In the past week, a Bristol-based company, Coexist, has made headlines because of its proposed ‘period policy’- allowing women time off work to combat their ‘monthly visitor’. The company, which has a predominantly female workforce, has suggested that it will make their employees ‘more productive’ and make the workplace ‘more efficient’.
Bex Baxter, the director of Coexist, has proposed this policy in an attempt to ‘synchronise’ the work schedule with natural body cycles. As part of a workshop/seminar ‘Pioneering Period Policy’, Coexist hope to be the first UK company to implement a policy that allows women to take time off from work due to chronic period pain.
This news has received mixed reactions across the UK. Whilst some argue that period pain constitutes a medical condition that physically affects some women’s abilities to perform daily work-related tasks, others argue that it is a discriminatory hand-out that offers women special treatment.
Both men and women oppose the idea because of its implications for workplace discrimination. Still struggling with gender-related issues such as the gender pay gap – Nottingham being included in this – those in opposition to this policy argue that it will widen the discrimination potential between male and female workers. Although it is illegal for men to employ a woman based on the fact that she has children, some argue that this policy will make men appear as ‘more efficient’ workers as they do not require time off on a monthly-basis.
However, it is important to consider that not all women experience the same period-related symptoms. Whilst some women effectively pass scot-free, and experience little to no pain, according to the NHS, 2% of women experience chronic pain that can be, at times, worse than the experience of a heart-attack. This means that it can be hard to generalise a ‘period policy’ as it has to consider the various differences from woman-to-woman.
Inevitably, some male responses have branded this policy as another case of ‘angry feminism’ and argue that they should receive time off from work because of their ‘man-period’ or ‘man-flu’ (which doesn’t exist **controversy**). This policy was bound to receive some backlash, especially considering the government’s arguments that British workers consistently ‘pull a sicky’ in order to skive off from work.
Despite all of the critiques of the policy, I think allowing some women time off from work due to chronic period pain is a good idea. It may encounter difficulties along the way but I think it shows appreciation for the female workforce who still have to deal with gender pay-gaps (it’s the 21st century, hurry up already!)
Releasing the stigma surrounding periods will ultimately be a positive thing. Men have to accept that roughly 50% of the population bleed for a couple of days and still survive. No biggie.
Edited by Katie Randall
Sources:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/male-opinions#.kvoPWDo9P
http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2016/03/periods-can-real-pain-menstrual-leave-policies-arent-solution/
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/02/uk-company-introduce-period-policy-female-staff
http://www.buzzfeed.com/skarlan/25-gifs-that-perfectly-sum-up-having-your-period#.akpgAWPRg