Woman quits job after manager mocks menstruation, says “then increase your pain tolerance”

Workplaces in India are slowly starting to talk about women’s health, but stories like this show there’s still a long way to go. Recently, a woman decided to quit her job after her manager dismissed her menstrual leave and made some shocking comments. Her story, shared on Reddit’s r/IndianWorkplace forum, has got people talking about how menstrual leave is still often misunderstood and mishandled.

Manager questions legitimate sick leave

The woman had taken sick leave once a month for three months straight because of severe cramps and dizziness during her periods. She had clearly explained her medical reasons in emails, but her manager still called her into the office to question her.




She wrote, “This guy calls me in the office and asks me about the leaves, even though the reason was clearly mentioned in the emails. His next statement was, Even my wife gets periods, but she works.”

When she tried to explain that pain tolerance differs for each person, he reportedly said, “Then increase your pain tolerance. I mean, are you kidding me?”

Online support and advice

Her Reddit post blew up quickly, with lots of people criticizing the manager and supporting her. Many pointed out that menstrual pain can be really severe and varies for each woman, so comparing it to someone else’s experience is unfair.

One user wrote, “Next time he raises the topic, give him a detailed analysis of different kinds of flow, pain tolerance on the scale of 10, and how it relates to pain faced by men (like being punched). Don't feel shy and be as graphic as you can.”

Another suggested, “If this is a decent-sized organization, OP can register a POSH complaint over this guy's personal remarks.”

And a third comment read, “You can't say that to a woman coworker in the office. This is extremely unprofessional. IMO, HR should've been notified because it's not your manager's business to talk about such personal stuff with you.”

Woman resigns amid workplace concerns

After that meeting, the woman decided to resign. In a follow-up post, she added that her manager, who works for his father’s company, even planned to deduct the cost of a work-related course from her final settlement.



Disclaimer: The story is based on a Reddit post shared by the individual. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims made in the post.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)