Closed petition Make women eligible for SSP for up to 3 days a month for severe menstrual pain

Closed on 6 September 2023

The Government should make women and those assigned female at birth eligible for Statutory Sick Pay for up to 3 days a month, where they suffer from severe menstrual pain. In this country women face costs men don't. If it is not the price of sanitary products is our health being ignored.

In most circumstances SSP is not paid for the first 3 days of absence. We need to follow the example of countries like Spain, so sick pay is available for menstrual pain from day one.

1.5 million UK women and those assigned female at birth are currently living with endometriosis with around 2 in 3 women developing at least 1 fibroid at some point in their life, causing severe pain, which is both mentally and physically challenging yet they are often expected to work, and may not be entitled to sick pay!

It is about time that we start recognising that women's health, especially severe menstrual pain, is something that can mentally devastate a women and it’s something that we cannot change. We do not choose this.