Rejected petition Introduce legally protected menstrual leave for women with debilitating periods.

We call on the UK Government to introduce legally protected menstrual leave for women with debilitating symptoms, ensuring they do not have to work through severe pain and that their health is recognized in employment law.

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Menstruation is not a minor inconvenience. Many women experience severe pain, fatigue, nausea, and other symptoms that significantly impair daily functioning. Yet women are expected to work through these symptoms without recognition or protection.
Current employment law does not acknowledge menstrual health, leaving women to choose between their health and their job. Legally protected menstrual leave would ensure women can manage their health safely while maintaining their dignity and productivity.
Periods are not optional, and neither should workplace protections be — women’s health matters, and it’s time the law reflected that.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

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You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:

Require employers have monthly menstrual 1-3 day leave policy
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/740839

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 28 January 2026
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