LRD guides and handbook December 2018

Sickness absence and sick pay - a guide for trade unions and working people

Chapter 3

Menstruation

[ch 3: page 68]

Menstruation should also be taken into account in sickness absence procedures. Treating someone less favourably due to menstruation is likely to amount to sex discrimination. Public services union UNISON says employers should develop workplace guidelines for pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) sufferers, raise awareness, and provide advice and support. They should also review sickness and absence management procedures to recognise PMS-related absence and consider reasonable adjustments. This could include modifying the trigger levels for sickness absence procedures.