What Is The Menstrual Leave Policy? Which Companies Offer Menstrual Leave In India?

October 21, 20222 Minutes Read
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There's little question that women have come a long way in India over the last few decades. The country has an impressive record of female workforce participation and representation in leadership positions, with several companies offering menstrual leave as part of their HR policies. But while workplace policies are evolving globally, they remain restrictive in some parts of India.

Have you ever wondered how long I need to take off work during my period? What should I do if I get sick during my period? Or when can I take time off from work because of these things? Here's all you need to know about taking leave during menstruation!

In India, the menstrual leave policy is not common. In fact, women in India are still not comfortable talking about their periods. The stigma and shame surrounding menstruation make it challenging to ask for leave or compensation after they're back at work.

The menstrual leave policy is a policy that allows women to take time off from work during menstruation. This is an important issue for many women, as they feel discomfort during their periods and wish to be away from work.

But there are many cultural stigmas and other taboos which have thwarted the introduction of such policies in India (and elsewhere). Some companies feel that offering menstrual leave will create competition between them and their competitors; others simply don't want their staff members discussing private matters at work.

So-called "period leave" has existed in some parts of China and Japan for years. Italian legislators are reportedly considering offering it there as well.

Though most companies in India don't offer menstrual leave to women, some have taken a step forward to update their policies for working women.

The Menstruation Benefits Bill 2017′ states that all women are privileged to get monthly Menstrual Leave in India of two days. The bill is made for women working in public and private organizations. These firms are registered with either the Central government or the state governments.

Zomato was one of the first Indian companies to introduce menstrual leave. The company started offering 12 days off every month for women who are experiencing their periods or are pregnant and nursing mothers. Other companies, such as Watsup Brothers, have also introduced similar policies for working women. Byju's, Culture Magazine, iVIPANAN, Swiggy, Mathrubhumi, Magzter, IndustryARC, FlyMyBiz and Gozoop allow menstrual leave.

Hopefully, those companies that have already introduced menstrual leave policies will soon be joined by more. It's time for the Indian government to catch up and ensure women aren't left out of their jobs due to their periods. If you are a woman, join Glow & Lovely Career's Sheroes community. Glow & Lovely Careers was formerly known as Fair & Lovely Career Foundation. Share info, ask for advice, and read inspirational stories for motivation with other like-minded women.

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July 23, 20214 Minutes Read

Komal Mangtani: The Rebellious Girl Learned Coding and Is Now One of America’s Top 50 Women in Technology

Coming from a conservative family in Surat, Komal's rebellion was taking up Coding as a career. Today, Komal is the Senior Director and Head of Engineering and Business Intelligence at Uber.

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Komal came from a conservative family in Surat. The idea of women working or going away for higher education was not popular.

"I come from a conservative family. People were loving but not necessarily giving me the right feedback.
Back then, traveling 200 km to study, staying in a hostel, was all a no-no. I distinctly remember crying, trying to convince my family this was the right thing for me."

So Komal rebelled and decided to take up Coding.

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Having the right career guidance is important. It is easier to succeed when what you are doing matches your interests. To get a free online test in career planning click here!

Using education as a ticket to independence Komal once said, "For me, computer engineering became a ticket to freedom, to independence." Coding helped Komal explore her career differently. She could move away from social norms that were otherwise tying her down.

The initial struggle

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It was not easy though. Komal studied engineering almost 20 -- 25 years back. During the 1980s- 1990s. Computers were not easily available then.

"I had to pay by the hour for computer time!"

To save money, Komal started writing software programs on paper first. Then she would run to the local cybercafé and type those programs on the computer.

Komal, however, did not let these challenges discourage her. Instead, she started having fun. She treated these challenges like a game. Writing software programs and testing them gave an outlet to her creativity.

Converting challenges into opportunities
Komal's imagination was strong. She loved solving puzzles and riddles. When the computer programs she wrote didn't work, she treated them like a puzzle. It was her version of a video game.

Breaking society's rules

After graduation, Komal joined Wipro as a software engineer. The society, however was not happy. At that time, people thought a working woman meant the family was poor.

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At that time, Komal's father supported her.

Taking up a job...... Going away from home to pursue a career.... Pursuing Technology, which was predominantly a male-dominated profession...... Komal kept breaking the typical norms.

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Taking these risks paid off

The job in Wipro as a software engineer was the start of a successful career. Due to her background with Wipro, Komal could shift to the US. There she got an opportunity to work with Oracle in the US.

Later she joined Uber and has been in the news ever since! Today, Komal is a senior Director in Uber and heads engineering and business intelligence.

Komal on girls entering the world of Technology

Komal's advice to girls wanted to enter Technology is that they should broaden the definition of Technology. Match using Technology with their interests. She gives an example of YouTube and Facebook.

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One may be developing the next YouTube because she or she likes love watching videos. Similarly, one may create the next Facebook because he/she likes to socialize.

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Having the right career guidance is important. It is easier to succeed when what you are doing matches your interests. To get free career guidance about your dream career, click here!

According to Komal, having an equal number of men and women in Technology is beneficial to business. Since women think differently and bring a unique approach to solving problems -- which may be different from a man's approach.

Komal is a strong supporter of women joining Technology. She is on board of communities such as Women Who Code and Girls Who Code -- organizations that help girls make a career in Technology.

In fact, Komal was also instrumental in Uber donating more than a million dollars to Girls who Code to help girls develop technical knowledge at a young age.

Komal on empowering girls to make their own decisions

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Be it career or deciding what to eat, Komal firmly believes that girls should make their own choice.

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She feels that we need to empower girls to make decisions from a very young age. It can be a simple activity such as going to a restaurant and allowing them to order what they want. This helps boost their confidence."

Komal herself has 2 daughters. One is 10 years old and the other is 14 years old. She keeps telling her girls not to allow the world to define them. She feels girls should invest in themselves and now allow others to define their strengths and weaknesses.

If you wish to pursue a career in computers and Information technology, you can check out our free online courses in Information Technology
Or you can click here to get free career guidance about your dream career!

Success Stories
June 21, 20213 Minutes Read

Chinu Kala : The 15 Year Old Girl Who Started with Rs 300 and Turned It into a Business Worth 15 Crores

Convert stones into milestones. While this saying is understood by many, it is applied by a few. And those few create history. Standing up against difficulties is tough. What makes it even more painful is doing it against your family. Working your way up is a struggle. And at every point of time, Chinu Kala had to face this struggle to rise to the top.

At the age of 15, when most children are about to end their school life and enter college life, young Chinu had to face uncompromising opposition from her family and was eventually thrown out of the house and left to fend for herself. With Rs. 300 in hand, surviving was tough, even in the '90s.

Young Chinu never looked back. She stayed at a dormitory where even the cost of per night's stay could end up that Rs. 300 in a month. And her accommodation only included a mattress. Chinu knew that this money would finish quickly if she did not take immediate steps. Thus began Chinu's journey in the business world.

Rs.300, though it was a good amount in the '90s, it was not enough to start a career, let alone a business. Determination and efforts can move mountains. This is what Chinu had in her. She started as a salesperson and knocked on every door that came in her way. Since it was the 90's, knocking on every door was not as difficult as it is now. But the chances of rejection were never less. Since she was a young teen with no prior training about sales, Chinu had to face rejections far more often. While most people would get frustrated and give up, she did not. The rejections made her even more determined.

Chinu was not the Young Chinu now. At the bare age of 16, she had matured into a woman who was ready to work tirelessly to achieve what she wanted. Her efforts resulted in her being promoted as a supervisor. Her efforts landed her the job of waitressing at a restaurant. Slowly but steadily, those Rs.300 started blooming. At that time, Chinu changed jobs for the better, and within 3 years, she became financially stable.

Chinu married Amit Kala in 2004 and 2 years later, she entered the Gladrags Mrs India Pageant. This is where she had her first brush with the fashion world. She started working as a model and realized the gap between the fashion industry and fashion jewellery. Whatever Chinu had saved, she decided to invest it into fashion jewellery, and thus Rubans was born in 2004.

Since Chinu was brought up in a humble background, she knew everything costed money. Her designs and prices were such that a middle-class person could afford her jewellery just as easily as a wealthy person could. From a small startup, the eventual rise of Rubans had started.

From struggling to afford a small retail space in Bengaluru to opening branches in Kochi, Hyderabad, and Koramangala, Rubans was ready to enjoy the fruits of Chinu's efforts. Sales grew exponentially. Hundreds became thousands, and thousands became Lakhs.

Rubans became a known name with every passing day. Dedication, efforts, and the refusal to break even in the worst scenario helped Rs.300 to reach the 15 crores.

Chinu's story is an inspiration for everyone who aspires to make their dreams come true. We, at Glow and Lovely, wish that every girl is able to achieve her dreams and fulfil her wishes. For this, there are different initiatives that you will find on this site. From online courses and career guidance for girls to scholarships, jobs for women and internships -- we are there to help whenever you wish.

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