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After Culture Machine, Kerala News Channel Mathrubhumi Announces ‘First Day Of Period Leave’ to Employees

Inspired by the Mumbai-based media company, Culture Machine, Kerala’s popular media group, Mathrubhumi has decided to give leaves to women on the first day of their period. The media organisation thus becomes the first to follow suit after Culture Machine announced ‘ the First Day of Period Leave’ for its employees. The company has decided to offer 12 days of ‘First Day of Period Leave’ each year. The Malayalam media giant will first implement period leaves in its digital space and later expand the police to sister organisations.

Countries like Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Italy already have menstrual leave in women employee’s leave policy. Companies like Nike and Coexist also let their staff take leave on the first day of their menstrual cycle. In Mathrubhumi News out of 320 employees, 75 are women. Times of India quoted Mathrubhumi’s joint managing director MV Shreyams Kumar as saying, “It was an eye-opener as channel workers do have a stressful job and work odd hours. They often work for extended hours. We need to understand that during menstruation, they might be grinding their teeth to subdue the pain. Do not think of it as sympathy; it is more of understanding women.”

Talking about the impact of the ‘period leave’ on the organisation, Kumar said that the company was not worried about the monetary aspect. He said, “It is all about supporting our staff and ensuring their happiness.” Initially, the first day of the period will be considered as a casual or medical leave and employees will have the option to accept or leave it. The implementation of the period leave was welcomed with applause in a meeting.

Women employees at Mathrubhumi News took to social media appreciating the move by their organisation. After Culture Machine started ‘period leave’, they had started an online petition to implement the “First day of period leave” policy in companies across the country. The petition received more than 28,000 supporters

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