You may be a pro at negotiating your salary, but when it comes to asking for paid period leave, it’s not always as easy as it seems. We want to assure you that there is nothing wrong with one approaching their employer to ask for a paid period leave. In fact, it could be more than just a nice gesture — it should actually be illegal if your employer doesn’t grant it.
We know that asking for time off for your period can seem weird or taboo, but it’s totally normal and totally necessary. If you’re feeling bloated, or crampy, or generally uncomfortable, you deserve to take care of yourself during your period — just like you would during any other time.
How To Write A Paid Period Leave (Email Samples)
If you’re concerned about how to broach the topic with your employer, don’t be. We’ve got some tips on how to ask for menstrual leave to help you feel empowered and confident in your decision to take paid period leave.
Here are some tips on how to ask for menstrual leave to make sure you get the time off you need in a way that doesn’t make your boss cringe:
- Make Sure You’re Eligible For Period Leave: Before you start negotiating, you should ensure that your company practices such a policy. If they do, then make sure that you fall under your company’s policy for paid period leave. This should typically apply to all women, but depending on your specific company or industry, it could apply to only women with chronic conditions or other medical needs that require them to take time off during their menstrual cycle. For this particular kind, you will be required to provide a medical report that proves it.
- Understand how much time off you need and you might be granted: You might not get paid for every single minute of the time off that you’re requesting—but some companies will give employees a certain amount of money per day or per week to compensate them for their time away from work or might not offer paid period leave.
- Be polite and respectful at all times: Even if your boss says no right away, you might just have to handle it a different way.
Email Sample: Period Leave Due to Cramps
Dear Grace,
I woke up this morning with dysmenorrhea [or debilitating cramps] and have to be on my prescribed medication for the rest of the day. I would like to take a day off so I can rest and hope that I recover quickly.
I’ll make sure to complete all of my tasks by the end of this week or early the following week. I can delegate any pressing matters to [name of a colleague]. If you need any help, please contact me via email or Slack.
I intend to return to work tomorrow, and I’ll keep you informed of my progress.
Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely
Alice
Email Sample: Period Leave Due to Extreme Symptoms
Hi Grace,
I want to take time off due to debilitating menstrual symptoms. I am happy to discuss this with you more in person if you would like.
I have assigned my duties to Jane for the current project we are working on. In case of any difficulty, you can reach out to me at my number [contact no].
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours Sincerely
Alice
Countries with A Period Leave Policy
There are certain countries that participate in the period leave policy, and a few others that are still working on it—hopefully. One of the most recent being Spain, which has proposed a legislation that will allow women to take a period leave from work for several days.
Other countries, however, implement this period leave policy, with some not fully utilizing it. Some of these countries include South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan. Some of these countries have given women two to five days at maximum to stay out of work and take proper care of their health. This rule especially applies to those who have a difficult time during their period. Women without this issue are advised to show up to work if they can handle themselves. South Korea also adds to the salaries of women who stay at work during their periods, unlike in other countries.
Period Leave should be implemented by all countries because so many women battle between taking time off to rest and handling work during these times. It’s best for companies to show some support for women.