Ms de Groot, employees of the city of Zurich can be absent for a maximum of five days a month in case of severe menstrual pain. How many days are there in your startup «Your Super»?
CRYSTAL THE GREAT: Five days a month? Wow! That is a lot. We have one day a month.
Why do employees on their period need a day off? Menstruation is not a disease.
It’s not a disease, but it’s not fun either. Personally, my period isn’t that painful, but I don’t feel that fit most of the time. And it is precisely on these days that I often have important appointments. I remember the one time I sat in front of all these men at a board meeting and thought, Am I bleeding through my pants or am I about to pass out. Why couldn’t I tell them what was wrong with me? Why did I risk making a bad impression? Because menstruation brings shame and stigma.
What good is it if women have time off during their period?
It encourages them – and everyone else – to listen to their bodies and rest. Instead of constantly grinding your teeth and taking painkillers. Having your period does not mean you are weak. Yes, women may be hungover once a month, but there are weeks when they are full of energy. I thought it was wrong to run a company that uses superfoods to improve people’s health and then not care about the well-being of my own employees.
What does a “Monday” look like?
“Moon Day” means you can work from home, you can come to the office, you can cancel meetings and take time off – whatever suits you best. I call it a “do what you can” day.
How did you come up with the name?
With “Your Super” we have a line based on the phases of the moon. Many women menstruate around the new or full moon. This is what inspired us to «Moon Days».
If they want to remove the stigma society has about menstruation, shouldn’t they call things by their own names instead of using code words? “Penis” is clearer than “pee” – and therefore less embarrassing.
I have no problem with the word “period”. This is also evident from my Ted Talk. “Moon Day” is just a little sweeter and softer than “menstrual holiday”. It is a good first step for the workplace. It allows us to talk about the subject without using words that we had difficulty pronouncing until now.
They have 35 employees in the US and EU. How did they react?
We are mostly women, 75 percent. When I introduced the “Moon Days” to the assembled staff, some employees’ jaws dropped. Especially in the US, many were embarrassed: “Oh, are we talking about it?” Not only men don’t want to talk about it, women too. Both contribute to the taboo.
How has menstrual leave been received since its introduction in 2019?
It has become normal. Some staffers have even started adding a blood or lunar moon to Slack status when they do a Monday.
Are there cultural differences between the US and the EU when it comes to menstruation?
There is more restraint in the US than in the EU. They even shy away from going on vacation there. But as soon as the first women started taking the “Moon Day”, the others followed suit. But by no means all! The treatment is fair: some employees do not have such severe menstrual pain and work despite their period. They do not abuse the «Moon Day».
That seems to me to be the most important message to other companies: that menstrual leave is not abused.
That was a concern that was often expressed. And how should we control it? Well, not at all. I mean, how is that supposed to work? Should we ask the women to bleed into a cup? (laughs) In my experience, no one is missing unless they are really missing something. You must be able to trust. Anything else is bad for employee motivation.
Women menstruate, get pregnant, have hot flashes. men don’t. Should the differences between men and women in the workplace be emphasized or eliminated?
Nor nor. The differences must be accepted. The world of work was created by men for men and has never fundamentally changed since then. To enter the labor market at all, women have adapted to the male style. But being equal does not mean having to be equal. Diversity means that everyone can be who they are – and of course that is different. Now that women have proven themselves in the professional world, they are trying to figure out how to be more feminine in the workplace.
So menstrual leave is just the beginning?
It’s about starting the conversation and responding to the needs of the staff. That creates connection. Last year, the marketing team itself launched a campaign to promote menstrual leave. This shows that the employees identify with it – and therefore also with our company.
Critics say women should take sick leave – no one needs to know why. This also protects their privacy.
Having menstruation doesn’t mean you’re sick, it means you’re a woman. And as an employer, I’d be more annoyed if I got a monthly doctor’s note from an employee than if I knew what was going on. And when critics argue that this deprives women of their privacy, they suggest that menstruation belongs there too: in the intimate sphere, in the private sphere.
Others say menstrual leave could reduce women’s prospects for equal pay or equal opportunities for promotion.
You can discuss that. But just because women take a day off every month doesn’t mean they have to earn less or move less often. Maybe they weren’t productive during their periods after all, and just sat at their desks in pain. What’s the difference then? In the end, it’s not about the actual hours you’ve worked, but about the performance that results from that. Happy employees generate more added value than unhappy employees.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
