PMS leave? Yes please!
On the face of it, the idea of three days paid leave each month sounds amazing, amiright? Just imagine a whole 72 hours to deal with the debilitating effects of PMS. Sign us up!
If Italian lawmakers have their way this could soon be the new normal for working women in their country.
Their parliament is currently debating the possibility of officially introducing “menstrual leave”, and if the bill passes, Italy will become the first country outside of Asia to instate this kind of policy.
So far, media outlets have reacted positively to the proposal which has been designed to help who women suffer from painful periods, but there are some who say if it passes, it could be seen as a setback.
Italy is already ahead of the curve when it comes to pro-female workplace policies, with women currently able to take five months per year of paid maternity leave. But then there’s the fact Italian women don’t make up workplace numbers in the same way other European women do; figures show only 61 per cent of Italian women work, compared with the European average of 72 per cent.
We can totes see how having a couple or three days paid PMS leave every month to deal with cramps could be a good thing, but if this law comes into effect it could also hurt more women than it helps.
According to stats via The Independent, Italy sacks almost a quarter of its pregnant employees during or after their pregnancies, even though this is illegal.
So, better laws for women’s health on the one hand, versus the possibility women may not be employed at all.
It’s a real catch-22 with, unfortunately, no easy answers. Watch this space!
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