In a progressive move, Japanese businesses are increasingly revising their menstrual leave policies, a system designed to give menstruating individuals time off work. This follows years of gender equality discussions and aims to eliminate the stigma associated with periods while promoting better work-life balance. Details about when this trend began, which companies have adopted these changes, and the impact on employee productivity and company culture are currently emerging.

In Japan, menstrual leave has been legally guaranteed since 1947. Despite that, many women have been hesitant to take it, due to potential stigmatization or fear of being burdensome. Recently, however, societal attitudes towards menstruation and menstrual leave are seeing a shift. More people are prioritizing gender equality and work-life balance, inducing companies to rethink and update their menstrual leave systems.

In contrast to Japan, the US does not have a nationwide menstrual leave policy in place. While some companies may have their own policies, there is no legal obligation. In the EU, the situation varies, with some countries like Italy introducing policies around menstrual leave, but such policies are not widespread.