L&T Introduces Menstrual Leave for Women Employees
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan has announced that women employees at the company’s parent group will now get one day of menstrual leave, according to a report by Livemint. With this move, L&T becomes one of the first companies in the industry to introduce menstrual leave.
Menstrual Leave Policies in India
A new bill called ‘The Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products’ is being discussed. It aims to support women at work by recognizing the physical and emotional challenges of menstruation.
In 2024, Odisha became the first state in India to offer a one-day menstrual leave for women working in both government and private offices. Karnataka is also considering a six-day paid menstrual leave per year for women in both the private and public sectors.
Controversy Over 90-Hour Workweek Comment
After facing criticism, L&T’s HR Head for Domestic Operations, Sonica Muraleedharan, clarified on LinkedIn that his comments were meant in a casual manner and were taken out of context.
The announcement of menstrual leave comes after Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks about a 90-hour workweek. Speaking to L&T employees, he mentioned that he wished they could work on Sundays as well.
He also joked about employees staying home on weekends, saying:
“How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
“I regret that I can’t make you work on Sundays. If I could, I would be happy because I work on Sundays too,” he said.
