Menstrual leave ensures workers have two days off in the event of severe symptoms
Women can apply for their menstrual leave from a company in Campo Grande. (Photo: Alex Machado)
In the last month, discussion of sick leave for women suffering from menstrual cramps has come back to the fore after Spain approved the benefit. And in Campo Grande, a tech company decided to introduce paid leave for women suffering from menstrual cramps.
Around here, the company reported that the menstrual leave is effective from International Women’s Day (8) and will be considered a twoday break. Employees who feel they are experiencing excessive pain or other complications do not need a medical certificate to claim the benefit.
According to Digix CEO Suely Amoas, the idea came after she read a book and thought about how she could take care of the women who work at the company during her menstrual period.
She explains how the service will work and explains that it is necessary to inform the company if the person has symptoms of menstruation, such as: B. cramps felt. “Who requests a day of menstrual leave and emails HR and Human Resources. If symptoms persist, the same procedure must be followed.”
Company boss Suely (left) comments on the importance of the decision. (Photo: Alex Machado)
It will also not be necessary to issue a certificate for the license, as the manager explains. “Because we want to welcome menstruating people and allow them to be themselves. We believe in what every person is feeling during this time and we don’t want to bureaucratize the processes,” says Suely.
Reflecting on the results, she comments that there’s no way to predict the impact, but the team believes that by improving women’s wellbeing, productivity will improve as well. “Because with the license we avoid presenteeism, which occurs when the employee is present at his or her workplace without being able to fully devote himself to his tasks. If there are negative impacts, we will reevaluate, plan and correct the errors, as we already do in all our activities.”
Advertising, Josiane Flores works with Endomarketing at Digix and explains that personally menstruation has always been a very bad experience. So, in practice, the holiday will be an opportunity to really take care of yourself.
“I have a lot of pain, especially colic and migraine, the cramps are very strong, for the first few days I even avoid physical activity because of the pain, it only gets better with medication and rest, my lower back is struggling! In the first days of the cycle I feel very tired because my menstruation is very intense, in the first two days I feel exhausted and that affects my performance,” explains Josiane.
Josiane works in the company’s Endomarketing and comments on the importance of the new policy. (Photo: Disclosure)
Regarding the development of this agenda in other companies, she comments that if we think of a general scenario, the small steps that are taken are important. “Digix has positioned itself on this very important agenda by empowering employees to have that selfcare, it’s a health issue and promotes more dignity for people who are menstruating. We have to talk about it, menstruation shouldn’t be taboo.”
And since a doctor’s certificate is not required, Josiane reports that she believes there is more transparency between the employee and the company. “I feel freer and more comfortable saying I don’t feel good. It’s building a safe environment and that makes the difference,” he adds.
Rute Benedita, 20, also works at the company and reports that she did not experience the symptoms when she was young. Today the scenario has changed and the opportunity to work in a company that offers remote work seems like a dream.
In the first few days I have the feeling that my body is very heavy, it is difficult to move even a muscle. I work in the hybrid format and on my last cycle I was in so much pain I was out of breath, says Rute.
By spending part of the time working from home, she reports that she can take a break to wait for the pain to go away temporarily. However, since the pain does not appear to be terminated, the service had to be resumed despite the indisposition.
In addition to pain, Rute explains that other factors related to menstruation also affect work performance. “Also, there’s the flow, which is usually very intense at the beginning of menstruation, and when I’m in person, I get neurotic because I’m afraid I’ve soiled my clothes or just want to take a shower.”
Thinking about it, she says that vacation is something primal when she thinks about that time, “you literally bleed nonstop and it’s very awkward to leave the house these days,” she says.
Though she’s celebrating the new policy at the company she works for, she comments that she doesn’t see this scenario becoming common anytime soon. “It takes a lot of empathy to realize that downsizing but prioritizing the physical and mental health of employees is a priority. It takes a lot of maturity.”
According to the report, 503 women currently work in the company and make up 63% of the workforce.
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