Indian Woman Resigns After Manager's Insensitive Comments on Menstrual Leave
Workplaces across India are gradually beginning to acknowledge and discuss women's health issues more openly. However, recent incidents highlight that significant progress is still needed to create truly supportive and understanding environments for female employees.
Manager Questions Legitimate Medical Leave
A distressing workplace incident has emerged from an anonymous woman's account shared on Reddit's r/IndianWorkplace forum. The woman had been taking sick leave once monthly for three consecutive months due to severe menstrual symptoms including intense cramps and dizziness. Despite providing clear medical explanations through official email communications, her manager summoned her for questioning.
The confrontation took an uncomfortable turn when the manager reportedly stated, "Even my wife gets periods, but she works." When the employee attempted to explain that pain tolerance varies significantly among individuals, the manager allegedly responded with, "Then increase your pain tolerance. I mean, are you kidding me?"
Online Community Reacts with Support and Advice
The Reddit post quickly gained traction, attracting numerous responses from users who criticized the manager's behavior and expressed solidarity with the woman. Many commenters emphasized that menstrual pain can range from mild discomfort to debilitating agony, making comparisons between women's experiences inappropriate and unprofessional.
One user suggested detailed retaliation: "Next time he raises the topic, give him a detailed analysis of different kinds of flow, pain tolerance on the scale of 10, and how it relates to pain faced by men (like being punched). Don't feel shy and be as graphic as you can."
Other practical recommendations emerged from the discussion:
- "If this is a decent-sized organization, OP can register a POSH complaint over this guy's personal remarks."
- "You can't say that to a woman coworker in the office. This is extremely unprofessional. IMO, HR should've been notified because it's not your manager's business to talk about such personal stuff with you."
Resignation and Additional Workplace Concerns
Following the distressing interaction, the woman made the difficult decision to resign from her position. In a subsequent update to her original post, she revealed additional concerning behavior from her manager, who reportedly planned to deduct the cost of a work-related training course from her final settlement.
This incident underscores broader challenges in Indian workplaces regarding menstrual health awareness and appropriate leave policies. While some progressive companies have implemented menstrual leave policies, many organizations still lack formal frameworks or adequate sensitivity training for managers.
The story has reignited conversations about:
- The need for standardized menstrual leave policies across Indian industries
- Mandatory sensitivity training for managers and HR personnel
- Creating safer reporting mechanisms for workplace discrimination
- Changing cultural attitudes toward women's health in professional settings
It's important to note that this account originates from a personal Reddit post and has not been independently verified by external sources. However, the widespread discussion it has generated reflects genuine concerns about workplace attitudes toward women's health in contemporary India.
