3 Days Paid Leave For “painful Menstruation “?

The controversy is out there. The Italian parliament debated an interesting proposal in April last year. They discussed whether to give three days leave to women suffering from painful menstruation.

While this may surprise you, the idea is not new.

• In Japan, for example, this paid leave has existed since 1947.
• In Argentina, they have also given women the opportunity to voluntarily take a day off if they need to. However, this is only in some companies and in certain work sectors.

But this news filled in the news in several European countries a few months ago, such as in the UK.

There they had a goal of seeming open, integrated and progressive. Some companies have added this right to their internal policies.

It is possible that many of our readers already have the same opinion on the subject. Do you agree to give women a few days’ paid leave if they are suffering from painful periods?

There are parts of our community that support this issue a lot. But there are also people on the other side. They believe that it is not a good idea for women to make some days available for that time of the month.

Today, in this article, we will give you more information on this interesting question.

Data that speak in favor of paid leave for painful menstruation

Painful menstruation and its invisibility

All women are different and their periods are different in nature. There are those who get their period without much pain.

• There are some who stand it through it with a painkiller of one kind or another. However, a percentage of women have menstrual periods that are so intense that they make them incapacitated.

• Gynecologists remind us that painful periods can be of two kinds: the first kind is where you do not know the cause, and the second is where there is a specific problem such as. endometriosis.
• A woman with a painful menstruation does not sleep well, suffers from migraines, and has dysphoria (mood swings). But it is especially characterized by a pain that becomes your only enemy for a few days.
• A person with this type of symptoms is a person who cannot provide 100%. And if they do, it’s under the influence of heavy medication – which does not always work.

According to some sectors, recognition of this is a way of fighting for equality in the workplace.

Initiatives like the proposal in Italy are also a way to provide visibility to this problem.

By doing this, they ensure things like giving women a better quality of life. And, in the end, more productivity.

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Opposition to paid leave for menstruation

Menstruation should not be seen as a disease

Interestingly, it seems that most of the people who are against this proposal are women. They argue against giving between one to three days of paid leave for a painful menstruation.

• There are several main arguments that they use to defend their point of view. One is, if this regulation applies, it will end up that menstruation is not seen as something natural, but as a disease.
• At the same time, they fear that the existence of this law will be the excuse many companies use for not hiring women because they constitute an additional cost. This is because no one is going to compensate the company for having an employee who will be absent for several days each month.

• They are also suspicious of how the law could be written. This leave could be defined as “leave due to inadequacy.”

This can be very stigmatizing by giving a picture of weakness or “not available” because the woman is ill. When in reality it is not such a disease.

At a time when positions in our society are opening up to women, this form of paid leave is viewed with suspicion. This is especially true of women’s rights groups who seek equal working conditions above all else.

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The need to take action in this direction

If Italy wanted to open the debate in April last year, it was because of concrete data: Women suffering from dysmenorrhea continue to cause lost working hours.

This is a reality, not a form of discrimination or something that pretends to apply labels. What they wanted to articulate is a mechanism that seeks to achieve some kind of solution. This must be done with sufficient respect and careful wording.

Possible suggestions

Painful menstruation makes one incapacitated. This is a proven truth.

• It would undoubtedly be best to rely on a good diagnosis for the cause of this intense pain. And know that with the help of a sanitary, pharmaceutical or strategic focus, you can have a better quality of life.
• Either way, the opportunity to get a few days off is always wise.

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Just like in Japan, every woman is free to use them or not.

• There will be months when it is necessary to take a day off. This is because the woman’s body is not working and because it is almost impossible to perform their work.

However, there will be months where you can be productive and where you do not need this time.

As we say, all women have different experiences with menstruation. And just giving visibility to this reality is already a step forward.