A company based in Bristol says it plans to introduce a "period policy" to allow female staff to work flexibly or take time off if they're on their period.
Bex Baxter, a director of Coexist, the company introducing the policy, said she believes it will increase productivity in the workplace and help break the taboo around periods.
Baxter told the Bristol Post: "I have managed many female members of staff over the years and I have seen women at work who are bent over double because of the pain caused by their periods.
"Despite this, they feel they cannot go home because they do not class themselves as unwell. And this is unfair. At Coexist we are very understanding. If someone is in pain – no matter what kind – they are encouraged to go home."
But the decision has upset some people. So we decided to go around our office and ask the men about the ins and outs of getting your period – and if they thought the policy was fair.
1. Ben, do you think women should get paid time off for their periods?
"Can I have paid time off my man period?"
"...Wait, that makes me sound bad, wait, no, that's not what I meant! I sound terrible! Don't put that."
2. Alex, please describe periods to us in three words.
"Painful, inconvenient, and bloody."
3. Tom, do you think women should get paid time off for their periods?
Do periods make you sad?
4. Lyle, do you think the proposed "period policy" is fair?
Lyle, how do you hide your period at work?
(He stares quietly into the distance and says nothing.)
5. Rory, do you prefer it when we ladies carry our bags to the loo making it clear we're bleeding, or would you rather we just palmed a Lil-Let?
6. Paul, describe periods in three words.
7. Ryan, are you afraid of periods?
"Do we know enough scientifically about what happens when a woman menstruates?"
8. Tom, what are periods for?
"Punishment. For sin."
9. James, do you think women should be able to free-bleed in the office?
"It might be..."
"...slippy."
10. Stuart, as our boss, will you give us time off for our periods?
Oh my god... Can we shake on that?
