Read from CBR:
The menstrual leave policy is unheard of in the game industry and rarely seen in many countries. GOG estimates it at one additional day per quarter but allows employees to take time as needed whenever menstrual pain occurs. Rather than an entire day, employees can take paid time hours off instead. Culture and communication manager Gabriela Siemienkowicz explained the policy is considered “experimental in a sense that we plan to evaluate in what way those additional days off impact the well-being of our menstruating employees at the end of 2022, and consider expanding the policy in the upcoming year.”
Menstrual leave policies are often considered controversial. While the implementation of one respects the physical toll of menstruation on a significant portion of the workforce, it's often regarded as risky to take advantage of the additional time off in case they are seen as less capable than others who do not.
Siemienkowicz said the inspiration came from her own experience when she had an excruciating period. She brought the topic up during a "Women of GOG" meeting and discovered she wasn't alone. “We shared the same view on this matter and would appreciate the possibility to simply lay down and take most of the day off without sacrificing one of the regular paid absence days we have available throughout the year," she explained.
“It fosters inclusiveness by accepting that there are biological differences in the workplace,” Siemienkowicz said, “By giving such additional days off, we acknowledge these symptoms are real.” However, she acknowledged that internal conversations proved the taboo is still evident in GOG and said it "results in misinformation and unconscious bias.”
The menstrual leave policy is unheard of in the game industry and rarely seen in many countries. GOG estimates it at one additional day per quarter but allows employees to take time as needed whenever menstrual pain occurs. Rather than an entire day, employees can take paid time hours off instead. Culture and communication manager Gabriela Siemienkowicz explained the policy is considered “experimental in a sense that we plan to evaluate in what way those additional days off impact the well-being of our menstruating employees at the end of 2022, and consider expanding the policy in the upcoming year.”
Menstrual leave policies are often considered controversial. While the implementation of one respects the physical toll of menstruation on a significant portion of the workforce, it's often regarded as risky to take advantage of the additional time off in case they are seen as less capable than others who do not.
Siemienkowicz said the inspiration came from her own experience when she had an excruciating period. She brought the topic up during a "Women of GOG" meeting and discovered she wasn't alone. “We shared the same view on this matter and would appreciate the possibility to simply lay down and take most of the day off without sacrificing one of the regular paid absence days we have available throughout the year," she explained.
“It fosters inclusiveness by accepting that there are biological differences in the workplace,” Siemienkowicz said, “By giving such additional days off, we acknowledge these symptoms are real.” However, she acknowledged that internal conversations proved the taboo is still evident in GOG and said it "results in misinformation and unconscious bias.”