In time of economic crisis, mass layoffs, company is still continuing working tradition by giving one day leave to their female employees
In the midst of the nationwide lockdown despite the fact that employees are working from home, Public Relation & Advocacy Group (PRAG) provides special provisions for female workers and allows them to take paid leave for one day during their periods. In the time of economic crisis and mass layoffs, PRAG is still continuing their working tradition by giving one day leave to their female employees.
Gaurav Gautam, Founder & CEO, PRAG unfolds his inspiring move in order to make his office a much deserved place for women. Gautam shared, “On March 22, 2018, a little over a 3-month-old company was busy preparing for their maiden round table conference at Constitution Club in New Delhi. Occasion? To champion the cause of Female Menstruation Bill, 2017. A private member bill by Ninong Erring, MP, Arunanchal East. Among other things, the bill provided for two days menstrual leave to women at workplaces during their periods. The initiative had been in works for months. But behind the scenes, behind the fanfare, the company was actually practicing what it preached. Though fewer in number, female employees and interns in the company had already been receiving a mandatory period leave. On that very day, the policy became official. But amidst the din and clamour of the heated round table discussion, this small but significant piece of information was seemingly lost.”
Earlier on Women’s Day, Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP, Thiruvananthapuram led All India Professional Congress (AIPC) and started a petition on Change.org to ‘Make laws & policy declaring menstrual leave for women’.
Talking about it, Gautam, said, “We are by and large a relatively young company with average employee age being 26-27 years. From the very beginning we wanted to make sure that the environment in the company is absolutely open so that everyone feels like at home here. Also being a company with modern outlooks, such initiatives were always on our agenda. We had been working on that Bill with the Honourable MP for months. We thought the moment (round table discussion) was the perfect moment to make it official, publicly.”
“We held regular meetings with our employees. In one such meeting, one of our female employee was clearly in discomfort. She had been feeling ‘unwell’ for two days. We enquired about it. We thought it was just some minor illness. It was only when she told us about the cramps and pains that they faced during their periods that really prompted us to doing something about it. After a few discussions we came up with an idea to grant every menstruating employee mandatory two days leave,” added Gautam, “It was purely a business minded decision at that time. We expect our employees to give their best and the least that we can do is provide them with a friendly environment. Almost a year later, the results are there for everyone to see. We are clearly seeing a change in the outlook and productivity of our employees.”
Nivedita Rajan, Senior Art Developer, PRAG, said, “Every woman has to undergo through menstrual cramps that make us unable to function mentally & physically. I have been working in the industry since last two years and PRAG happened to be the first firm that gives the privilege to all of their female employees with an extra day off in the name of Menstruation Leave. I’ve noticed, there’s a certain enhancement in the productivity level at work the very next day of the Menstruation Leave. I believe that every public as well as private firm in India should focus on this subject.”