Toulouse: how a small company offered a day of “menstrual leave” to its employees
Since March 8, 2022, employees of the Louis company can benefit from one day of menstrual leave per month.
After the 4-day week, unlimited vacation, extended paternity leave… Here is “menstrual leave”. The Toulouse start-up Louis located in Labège has designed and produced customizable office furniture for companies. Half of the employees are women. Louis gives them the possibility of benefiting from an additional day off per month, if they feel the need when they have their period. This measure was rewarded on the initiative of the employees, in order to promote well-being at work, in particular for women working in the workshop with a physical position. Margot, a cabinetmaker with the company for three years, is affected by this difficulty: “I regularly have to leave the workshop in the middle of the day because my periods are too painful. I had to take a day off or do a work stopping”. Today, employees are reassured by this news, even those who do not feel the need to take this day off. This is the case of Jessica, she explains: “I am very little concerned with painful periods but when it happens, it is complicated with the work we do.
Lift taboos
This measure is the result of a discussion between Lucie Rouet, communication manager at Louis, and Manu, cabinetmaker and “harassment referent” of the small business. They first organized a discussion with the women in the workshop. Then they presented the project to the founders of Louis, who immediately accepted, provided that all the employees agreed. Lucie and Manu then proposed a presentation on the rules in but to raise awareness among their male colleagues. For Thomas Devinaux, co-founder of Louis, “our team is very committed to gender equality. The measure corresponds with what we defend, it is a gain for the corporate culture”. Gaël, a 30-year-old cabinetmaker, also received this news with enthusiasm: “Why didn’t we think of this sooner?”.
Anticipate absences
The 7 women in the company filled in a monitoring table, in which they indicate the period of their periods. The objective is to be able to anticipate absences, it’s a comfort solution, Thomas explains: “It’s a gain in terms of forecasting for production. We can provide an extra person if one day an employee cannot ensure her working day, and therefore not waste time on manufacturing”.
A report made at the end of the year, it will allow to rediscuss the measure, see its evolution. And measure the costs. Several companies have contacted “Louis”. They ask for tips so that they, in turn, are likely to deal with the subject with their own employees.