2023-05-26 06:28:05
“The nightmare is always the second week of the month. » Mary has « dysmenorrhea », an unknown medical term hiding a reality experienced by many women: painful periods. Sometimes absent, sometimes acute, the pain sometimes prevents him from moving for a day or two. « Fortunately, I have the possibility of telecommuting », advances this communication officer in a Parisian company.
Giving women the possibility of stopping during incapacitating periods: this is precisely the aim of menstrual leave. In recent months, the idea has made its way in France, to Parliament. Green MP Sébastien Peytavie tabled Friday, May 26 a new bill to help women who are affected. This is the third French parliamentary initiative on the subject since the adoption of Spanish legislation last February.
A sick leave of 13 days per year
“Rather than leave, we are talking about sick leave », explains the co-rapporteur. The legislation aims to give women 13 days off per year, with no waiting day, thanks to a doctor’s prescription, valid for one year. Women will be able, from a website, to generate their stop when they need it.
This desire to provide a framework for a universal problem has been welcomed by many feminist associations. « This will make it possible to legitimize a reality suffered by women: yes, periods can be painful and yes, you have the right to stop and be taken care of. », supports Maud Leblon, director of the association Rules Elementary which fights against menstrual precariousness.
A risk of increasing discrimination?
Faced with this, the employers’ organizations issue numerous criticisms. « This risks creating major disorganization, especially in small businesses., advances Stéphanie Pauzat, vice-president of the Confederation of small and medium-sized enterprises (CPME). Women disabled by their period can already be arrested by a doctor, so why systematize? »
Like the Medef, the organization representing SMEs fears an impact on the hiring of women in companies: « We are fighting more and more for equality, so why create specific regimes? », concludes Stéphanie Pauzat, who also fears abuse.
These criticisms make feminist associations bitter. « Let’s stop thinking that the neutral is masculine. We have long fought to be at the same level as men, but that does not mean that there are no physiological differences., insists Floriane Volt, of the Women’s Foundation. Discrimination is a reality, with or without menstrual leave. Women are not discriminated against because they become pregnant or because they have theirs rules, but because of sexism. It must be fought and must not hinder the progress of the law. »
Breaking the rules taboo
For their part, legislators are convinced that the law would allow companies to better anticipate absences and improve working conditions. « These pains are there, with or without legislation. The idea is to record something that exists in order to provide tools to better frame it », supports MP Mickaël Bouloux (PS), rapporteur for a bill tabled in early May and similar to that of his environmentalist counterpart.
“It’s time to break the taboo of menstruation in companies », completes Sébastien Peytavie, whose bill includes a trade union component, allowing staff representatives to address the subject in collective negotiations.
While they share this desire to open up discussion on women’s health, some associations have expressed reservations about the texts as presented by parliamentarians. Dare feminism thus aspires to « a broader right: that of benefiting from compensation from the first day of sick leave, for both women and men »explains Violaine de Filippis, spokesperson, who regrets that this measure has not been examined.
Finally, other feminists fear repercussions on women’s working conditions. “There is a risk that they seek to overcompensate for their absence, out of guilt, and that they increase their dose of work the days after their stoppage, concludes Caroline de Pauw, sociologist and associate researcher at Clersé (University of Lille). Women are a bit more prone to burnout. If they are asked to perform better because they are on this leave, I fear for their mental health. »
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For a third of employees, the rules have a negative impact on their work
According to an Ifop poll published in October 2022, 16% of employees with menstruation have periods “very painful” et 37 % “quite painful”.
One in ten say their menstrual pain has ” a lot ” negative impact on their work, 25 % ” A little “. The main problems are difficulty concentrating and standing.
Two-thirds (66%) of employees say they are in favor of menstrual leave in the company, and as many think they could use it, including 12% ” regularly “. However, 80% fear that this could represent an obstacle to hiring or career.
In Japan, menstrual leave has existed since 1947. According to the Japanese Ministry of Labor, only 0.9% of eligible employees have already used it, for fear of discrimination.
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