Workplace wellbeing has gradually evolved from a focus on perks and productivity to something more meaningful: people-first policies that reflect what employees truly need. Conversations that were once kept private are now part of open discussions in HR and leadership circles. Among those topics is menstruation, and it’s finally being spoken about with honesty and empathy.
A thoughtful menstrual leave policy is not a radical idea. It is a sign of maturity, of workplaces catching up to human reality. It sits alongside broader menstrual awareness initiatives that normalise how physical comfort and mental wellbeing intersect.
At Mahina, this shift has always felt necessary. Through The Beyond Blood Report, we learned just how much unseen effort menstruators carry every month. What was once treated as a private inconvenience turns out to be a structural issue that affects wellbeing, productivity, and inclusion.
The Hidden Labour Of Menstruation
Menstruation extends beyond physical symptoms. It changes how a person plans, moves, and thinks. From remembering to carry extra products to deciding whether a meeting, commute, or long day out will be manageable during their period, this constant awareness creates what we call the hidden mental load of menstruation. It is a quiet but persistent form of labour that most menstruators have carried since their very first cycle.
For years, this mental load went unmeasured. It was normalised as part of womanhood, which was expected to be kept hidden, hushed, and never acknowledged in workplaces. That silence is what Mahina wanted to change. This gave rise to The Beyond Blood Report, in which we set out to quantify what menstruators have always known but were always asked to bury.
The findings were eye-opening. Here’s what the data revealed:
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97% of menstruators rearrange their routines every cycle.
Each month, most menstruators reshape their day: shifting meetings, rethinking travel, and planning their time around their flow. -
62% mask their symptoms to appear “normal.”
Pain, fatigue, and discomfort are hidden behind calm expressions. It takes constant effort to appear composed when their body feels anything but. -
4 in 5 worry about finding a clean restroom when bleeding.
Something as basic as using the washroom becomes a calculated choice about when and where they can manage their period safely. -
3 in 5 rely on multiple products to prevent leaks.
Layering pads or liners is not about convenience but control. It reflects the constant vigilance menstruators carry to stay ahead of uncertainty.
Behind these numbers is a powerful truth: menstruation comes with invisible planning, vigilance, and emotional strain. By naming and measuring this hidden load, Mahina helped shift the conversation from personal endurance to collective responsibility. Once you see the scale of what menstruators quietly manage, the question is no longer whether menstruation deserves attention; it is how workplaces can better support it.
Why Menstrual Leave Matters
That is where menstrual leave becomes meaningful. A menstrual leave policy is not a favour or an indulgence; it is a simple recognition of the fact that bodies have different needs. It gives people permission to listen to themselves and the space to rest when they need to.
When companies approach this with care, it benefits everyone. Employees feel seen and supported, and in turn, they show up with more focus, creativity, and confidence. When the fear of judgement disappears, productivity and morale rise naturally. Menstrual leave is not about time away from work. It is about giving people the comfort to return to it fully.
For organisations, this approach strengthens trust. When employees believe that their wellbeing matters, they engage more deeply with their work. They stop spending energy on concealment and instead direct it toward contribution. What begins as empathy ends up improving performance, retention, and loyalty. When compassion becomes part of how we work, teams become more collaborative, managers become more considerate, and workplaces evolve into spaces where people feel seen and supported.
At Mahina, this understanding goes beyond product creation. It shapes how we think about design, comfort, and culture. Whether it’s designing period underwear that makes comfort feel effortless through every cycle or shaping policies that respect real-life rhythms, the intention remains the same: to make period care feel natural, not exceptional. A workplace rooted in menstrual awareness enables that shift. It normalises conversations so that menstruation is no longer something to conceal but something to navigate with understanding.
The Future Works Differently
When paired with consistent menstrual awareness, menstrual leave helps build a culture where people no longer have to hide pain to prove capability. It shifts the focus from endurance to empathy, from simply managing to truly supporting. Menstrual leave is not about taking time off. It is about creating space for people to work with comfort, clarity, and confidence.
Sources
- TOI: Karnataka approves 12 menstrual leaves for women employees
- Hindustan Times: When period leave becomes law: What Karnataka’s new policy means for working women
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