Should The UK Introduce ‘Menstrual Leave’? Yes, But First Fix Toxic Work Culture

Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash" />“Do you mind if I work from the sofa in the office today?”, I asked my boss. We did have a seating area adjacent to our desks and we all worked from laptops so logistically, it was completely doable but staff rarely sat in those seats, even during our lunch break.My boss, confused and concerned said I could but, “Is there any reason? Are you alright?”The thing is, I wasn’t alright. I have been suffering with endometriosis, a condition which causes chronic pain, inflammation and heavy periods since I was 11 years old. This day, the thought of sitting upright while my uterus was screaming at me and my thighs were burning with pain was just unbearable. I couldn’t take more time off though.Throughout high school and my career since, this has been my reality and I am far from alone. In fact, according to Endometriosis UK, 1 in 10 women in the UK suffers with this disease.Following my most recent surgery, I was told that I also have adenomyosis. Another painful gynaecological condition that affects around 1 in 10 women in the UK. The thing is, there’s no real rights for the millions of us living with this pain. It could be different, though.Paid menstrual leave was introduced in Portugal and Spain, could it become a reality in the UK?In Portugal, absences related to endometriosis or adenomyosis are now protected, following an amendment to the country’s labour code and in 2023, Spain passed a law allowing those with especially painful periods to take paid “menstrual leave”.These are massively hopeful advances in women’s working rights and will help people with these chronic conditions to manage their symptoms and rest when they need to, instead of pushing on and making inflammation worse due to stress.Could it happen here in the UK, too?Well, at the time of writing, over 52,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to introduce statutory paid menstrual leave of up to 3 days per month for people with conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis, based on the new model introduced in Portugal.Science Officer Dr. Amanda Shea & Eve Lepage, Head of Reproductive Health, at Clue, the world’s most trusted name in menstrual health back this campaign but urge that we still have a long way to go.They say: “Menstrual symptoms like pain, fatigue, brain fog or mood shifts can be truly debilitating— especially for those with chronic conditions like endometriosis, PMDD or fibroids. “But too often, the severity of menstrual and hormonal symptoms is dismissed, and the burden falls on individuals to silently manage through work. Current conversations focus heavily on diagnosis, but many struggle without ever receiving one due to systemic healthcare barriers.”Reminder that diagnosis for endometriosis can take on average 8 years and 10 months.The experts add: “Policymakers and employers still view menstruation as either manageable or disabling—when in reality, it’s a spectrum that changes across a person’s life.”Yes, let’s have Paid Menstrual Leave but let’s also improve working conditionsSadly, endometriosis and adenomyosis are painful conditions throughout the entire month so while support during our periods is fantastic, the rest of the menstrual cycle is no walk in the park, either.The experts add: “Effective support should include flexible hours, remote work options, and access to time off— without requiring proof or disclosure. Policies must reflect that menstrual needs fluctuate across life stages, including perimenopause and fertility treatment“Menstrual leave should be voluntary, not assumed, and come with education to challenge stigma and normalise menstruation in the workplace Ultimately, policy should offer trust, flexibility, and care— without reinforcing gender bias or one-size-fits-all thinking.”Here’s hoping there’s a more supportive future for workers with these conditions.Related...You Need To Talk To Your Autistic Child About Periods – But When?Locked Loos And Leaks At School: Students Are Facing Too Many Barriers On Their PeriodsI Tracked My Periods For Six Months And Realised Something That Changed My Life

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