Menstrual Flexibility Leave

Good Practice

Equality

Eight hours of leave per month to reconcile health and wellness with work.

Girona City Council

Spain

Local policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

Menstrual flexibility leave aims to make it easier for workers to adapt work rhythm to the menstrual cycle in those cases that may affect the individual’s well-being and work performance.

CONTEXT

Leave aims to help employees adapt their work rhythm to the menstrual cycle in those cases that it may affect their well-being and work performance.

Menstruation often causes physical discomfort, fatigue, emotional sensitivity, etc., which, while not requiring medical leave, diminish well-being and can negatively impact work and require an overexertion that ultimately has physical and/or emotional consequences.

This improvement at work is an opportunity to talk about health and work and to incorporate the gender perspective.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

This leave, an initiative and proposal of union groups, was approved by Girona City Council in plenary assembly. By making a request to the HR department, Girona City Council workers who need it can apply for up to eight hours of flexible menstrual leave, which allows them to be absent or modify the working day schedule.

Flexible hours may cover a period of up to three months. This leave is always granted, and no proof is required.

KEY ASPECTS

Proposal from trade unions (collective bargaining)
Approved by the Girona City Council plenary
Leave incorporated into the labor agreement
Maximum eight hours of flexible working hours per month to be recovered within three months
Always granted and no justification required
Innovative initiative making it possible to talk about health, women and health, women and work
Incorporates the gender perspective in occupational health
Policy putting people’s wellbeing at the centre, to improve not only individual wellbeing, but also the quality and health of companies and, by extension, the quality and health of cities

RESULTS

Three requests were received during the three-month period of policy implementation.

This policy is expected to benefit a total of 554 women.

Policy's Website

Gloria

Plana i Yanez

Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion

dalsina@ajgirona.cat

Good Practice