Menstrual Leave Debate: Opportunity to Address Inclusivity in Indian Organizations

Menstrual leave raises a number of questions regarding women’s health, workforce participation and gender equity at work. This paper addresses the issue in the context of urban women in the organized workforce. Their access to clean, safe toilets at work and at home puts them at a relative advantage compared to women in the unorganized sector. Menstrual leave policies, though well-intentioned, could have negative consequences for gender equity and need to be deployed with caution. The debate on the policy has raised important issues related to how workplaces can be more inclusive of women’s bodies. It is suggested that discussions on gender inclusivity must take into account the intersection of gender with age, class and position in the organizational hierarchy.