Tens of thousands demand menstrual leave to be written into UK law

More than 65,000 people have signed a petition for menstrual leave to be added to UK employment rights law.

The campaign needs 100,000 signatures for a parliamentary debate.

It was launched by Scots mum Michelle Dewar, who endured chronic pain for nine years before being diagnosed with endometriosis – a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the womb.

Dewar wants the UK to follow Portugal, which recently introduced paid leave for people with similar conditions. She says protections must include no loss of pay, benefits or seniority.

Endometriosis UK has welcomed the petition but argues the government should go further and recognise menstrual health conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis as chronic diseases that deserve the same workplace support as illnesses such as diabetes or asthma.

Writing in the Scottish Sun, Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said workplace discrimination remains widespread due to limited understanding.

“The taboo and embarrassment around ‘women’s issues’ makes the topic hard or impossible to discuss with managers,” she said.

Examples include fears about being made to wear light-coloured uniforms during heavy bleeding, fluctuating symptoms that lead to staff being unfairly labelled as “flaky”, and absence management policies that penalise people for their condition.

The charity says absenteeism caused by heavy and painful periods, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts costs the UK economy nearly £11bn each year.

Endometriosis UK is calling for the Employment Rights Bill to require menstrual health action plans in workplaces, giving staff clear guidance on support.

It also wants the NHS to cut diagnosis times, which average eight years and 10 months for endometriosis, and to extend that target to adenomyosis too, aiming for one year or less by 2030.

Cox warned that the term “menstrual leave” could be misleading.

She said: “We fear the term ‘menstrual leave’ could be misunderstood to imply it is for everyone who has periods and could lead to discrimination, or perpetuate the myth that it is ‘normal’ to have severe symptoms and that those who can’t cope are ‘weak’.”

The charity runs an Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme and workplace training to help organisations understand the impact of both endometriosis and adenomyosis.