Odisha Govt Announces Additional Casual Leave for Female Employees During Menstruation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has introduced an additional casual leave (CL) benefit for its female workforce to address the challenges posed by menstruation. Under the new policy, female employees will be entitled to an extra 12 days of casual leave per year, with one day granted each month, on top of the existing 15 days of casual leave.

The official notification outlines that this new provision will apply to female employees up to the age of 55. It further specifies that the additional leave will be non-transferable—meaning if not availed within the respective month, the leave will lapse and cannot be carried forward to the following month.

This new policy replaces a previous memorandum issued by the finance department in March 2024, which had granted an additional 10 days of casual leave, supplementing the regular 10 days of casual leave and 5 days of special casual leave.

The decision to offer this extra leave reflects the Odisha government’s growing recognition of the importance of creating supportive and inclusive workplace policies, particularly those that address the health needs and physical discomforts associated with menstruation. With this initiative, the government aims to foster a more accommodating work environment for female employees, ensuring that they can maintain their productivity while also prioritizing their health and well-being.