L&T Chairman Subrahmanyan Announces 'One-Day Paid Menstrual Leave'

The specifics of the annual menstrual leave policy, including its start date, and whether it offers additional paid leave beyond existing entitlements is yet to be determined, reveals the report

L&T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan

Source : LTIMindTree

In a significant move for major corporations in the engineering and construction sector, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan introduced a policy offering women employees one day of paid menstrual leave each month, according to a report from The Times of India.

The announcement took place during the Women's Day celebrations at the company’s Powai office in Mumbai, where Subrahmanyan addressed a group of 350 female employees.

L&T employs a total workforce of 60,000 people, with women making up 9 per cent of that number, which is approximately 5,000 employees.

However, this new policy does not apply to L&T’s non-construction and non-engineering sectors, such as financial and technology services, where work-from-home and flexible arrangements are available. In contrast, L&T’s core operations maintain an office-based working model, as per the report.

L&T Chairman's Controversial Comment

The announcement of menstrual leave on Thursday follows criticism of L&T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan's previous comment about a 90-hour workweek. Subrahmanyan had earlier proposed a 90-hour workweek for employees and voiced his disappointment over the company's inability to implement Sunday work.

The specifics of the 12-day annual menstrual leave policy, including its start date, whether it offers additional paid leave beyond existing entitlements and the allowable timing within the menstrual cycle, have yet to be determined, reveals the report.

Although India does not have national legislation on menstrual leave, several organisations, including AU Small Finance Bank, Orient Electric (part of the CK Birla Group), Swiggy, Zomato, and states like Odisha, Bihar, and Kerala, have independently implemented this policy to support women's health and well-being. Last year, the Supreme Court recommended that the government develop a national policy on the matter.

The Times of India report quoted Sonam Chandwani, Managing Partner at KS Legal and Associates, who highlighted that despite the positive intentions behind menstrual leave policies, practical challenges persist.

"While it recognises biological differences and supports workplace inclusivity, it could unintentionally reinforce gender biases. Employers might hesitate to hire or promote women in roles requiring continuous availability, fearing additional leave requirements like maternity leave. This could set back workplace equality," she explained.