After 90-hour workweek remark, L&T chief S N Subrahmanyan now announces one day paid menstrual leave for women employees
menstrual leave policy for its women employees. The announcement, made by Chairman and Managing Director S N Subrahmanyan, came during Women's Day celebrations at the company's Powai office in Mumbai. This policy, a first in the industry, is expected to benefit around 5,000 women employees, who constitute 9% of L&T’s 60,000-strong workforce.
The provision, however, is limited to L&T’s core engineering and construction divisions, excluding its financial and technology subsidiaries, which already offer work-from-home and flexible arrangements. The specifics regarding its implementation, including whether it will be an additional paid leave or part of existing entitlements, remain unclear.
Menstrual Leave Policies in India
India does not have national legislation mandating menstrual leave, but some states and companies have introduced similar policies. Odisha became the first state in August 2024 to implement a one-day menstrual leave policy for both government and private-sector employees. Karnataka is considering a bill proposing six days of paid menstrual leave annually and free access to menstrual health products.
Several private organisations, including Zomato and Swiggy, have also implemented menstrual leave policies. Zomato, for instance, has offered ten days of paid period leave per year since 2020.
According to a report by Naukri titled ‘The Unfiltered Truth: What Women Professionals Really Want,’ 34% of women rank menstrual leave as the top workplace policy they seek, surpassing concerns over equal pay.