L&T Announces Paid Menstrual Leave: Here Are Other Companies In India Offering Period Leave

Larsen & Toubro Ltd., one of India’s leading engineering and infrastructure giants, has introduced a one-day paid menstrual leave for its women employees. This initiative, announced to mark International Women’s Day, is a significant step towards workplace inclusivity.

Announcing the move at a company event, L&T’s Chairman and Managing Director S N Subrahmanyan said that the finer details of the policy will be worked out soon. 

This move follows recent controversy surrounding Subrahmanyan’s remarks on employees working 90-hour weeks, which had sparked widespread debate.

While L&T is among the latest corporate houses to adopt menstrual leave, several companies in India have already implemented similar policies.

Here’s a look at some of them:

• Orient Electric: Part of the CK Birla Group, Orient Electric introduced menstrual leave in 2022, reinforcing its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

• AU Small Finance Bank: Since 2022, AU Small Finance Bank has offered one day of additional paid leave per month, under its menstrual leave policy in addition to the usual paid leaves.

• Swiggy: The food delivery giant introduced a two-day paid menstrual leave policy in 2021 for its female delivery partners. Women availing this leave remain eligible for the company’s minimum earnings guarantee.

• Zomato: The Gurugram-based food tech company provides 10 days of paid menstrual leave annually, ensuring better work-life balance for its female employees.

• Byju’s: In 2021, the edtech firm implemented a policy allowing up to 12 paid period leaves annually for its women employees.

• Gozoop: Gozoop introduced paid period leave in 2017. Women employees are granted one additional paid work-from-home day per month.

• Scaler: Scaler provides 12 days of menstrual leave per year to both women and transgender employees.

• Seclore: Understanding the challenges faced during menstruation, Seclore offers 10 days of paid period leave annually to its women employees.

• Horses Stable News: The Bengaluru-based startup provides two days of paid leave every month for its female employees during their menstrual cycle.

• Mathrubhumi News Television Channel: This Malayalam news channel has been offering a one-day menstrual leave since July 2017.

• Culture Machine: The Mumbai-based digital media startup introduced a one-day paid period leave in 2017 for its women employees.

• Wet And Dry: A New Delhi-based firm specialising in feminine hygiene products, Wet And Dry provides two days of menstrual leave with an option to work from home.

• Magzter: The Chennai-based digital magazine platform introduced a one-day paid menstrual leave per month in July 2017.

• IndustryARC: The Hyderabad-based consulting and research firm allows one or two days of paid menstrual leave for menstruating employees.

Menstrual leave is not limited to the corporate world. Four Indian states — Bihar, Odisha, Sikkim and Kerala — have provisions for government employees to avail such leave.