The case in summary Maia (24) has severe pain in her uterus, but is able to work thanks to an understanding boss who makes arrangements for her. MDG, represented by Lan Marie Berg, proposes that Norway should introduce paid period leave for women with severe menstrual cramps, similar to Spain. Berg believes that menstrual pain should be considered a valid absence in the new absence rules for upper secondary school, without the need for a doctor’s note each time. Labor and Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) has stated that employers should give women adaptations for periods and hot flashes in order to reduce sickness absence. The regional director of NHO is against the proposal to introduce period leave, as they believe that the current sick pay schemes cover the need for women who struggle to work due to period pain. The government has set up a committee to look at women’s health at work, and proposals for measures must be submitted by 1 April 2025. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It shouldn’t be a significant disadvantage to be a woman and menstruating, says Lan Marie Berg, parliamentary representative in MDG. Norway should follow the example of Spain and give women with severe menstrual cramps free periods with pay, Berg believes. – It should be considered whether menstruating women should be given more self-reporting days if they have a doctor’s certificate stating that they have severe chronic pain, she says. He will propose this to the Storting in the autumn. – It is a good idea to make it easier for more people to persevere in school and work, says Berg. Lan Marie Berg in MDG. Photo: William Jobling / news – It’s simply about taking women’s health seriously. The health sector and employers in Norway have largely not done so because we have not had a good discussion about it, she says. news recently wrote that 8 out of 10 girls at secondary school have period pains, and half of these have been absent from school because of pain. Menstrual pain should be considered valid absence in the new absence rules, Berg believes. – When the government decides on new absence rules in the autumn, they should consider menstrual pain as a valid absence beyond the absence limits without the need for a doctor’s note each time, says Berg. Have you been away from school or work because of your period? Yes, it happens about every month. Yes, but it doesn’t happen very often. No, I’m not in so much pain that I need it. No, I’m a man. Show result My statutory days off will help – I actually feel like a giant bruise, says Maia. The 24-year-old had severe menstrual cramps when she was 15. Hormone treatment caused her to lose her period, but now she struggles with chronic pain in her uterus. At worst, she is completely bedridden with severe pain in her uterus, bladder, lower back and down her legs. The pain can come on suddenly and change from day to day. – One feels very vulnerable. It is especially in situations where it occurs very suddenly and it is not appropriate to have a small breakdown. But one becomes very good at hiding the pain over time, she says. Maia works as a graphic designer and illustrator in a small company. She works in her job because she has an employer who understands the situation. – I have felt safe and looked after in my work situation. I’ve been open about how I’m feeling, and that way I’ve been facilitated and given the opportunity to work from home, she says. She believes that it would help women like her to have statutory rights to extra days off when you have severe and chronic menstrual cramps. – It can’t just be the case that you get an arranged workplace because the boss feels sorry for you, she says. news has been in contact with several women with severe menstrual cramps who believe that a period-free period is a good solution: Meriem Saleem (34), supervisor at NavI have sometimes gone to work with a heating bag as a result of intense pain. I have been open about my health situation and how my ability to work is affected when I have severe menstrual pain. I have been met with full understanding by my immediate manager, and therefore received arrangements in the form of a home office on the day I have acute abdominal pain. I cannot use painkillers because of stomach ulcers. Siv Kristin Kongsrud (29), kindergarten teacher I have both endometriosis and adenomyosis. This has affected my everyday life since I was in secondary school. I have chronic pain, especially in the abdomen, around the uterus and intestines. Those of us who work in a nursery do not have the option of withdrawing from work if the pain becomes severe. Just leaving to change pads and tampons due to heavy bleeding is a challenge. What would have worked is to bring in other rights for women in general in such professions. Sara Elise Holtren (25), skilled worker in a nursery I have had endometriosis since I was 12 years old, and have been operated on three times with pinhole surgery. I have been in 100 percent work since I was 19, but struggled a lot to balance work and a chronic illness. It is difficult because it is not organized in a good way to be able to be at work if you are ill. Walking with intense pain is no cakewalk. There is also no capacity to leave to change pads or tampons. Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue of a similar type to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. news has come into contact with the women through the Endometriosis Association. Right today Figures from Nav show that menstruation-related sickness absence amounted to 44,442 lost man-years last year. Labor and Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) has stated to Dagens Næringsliv that employers should give women adjustments for periods and hot flashes, in order to reduce sickness absence. Berg believes that it should be considered a statutory right. – It is important to have a clear framework. I am not sure if a call from the Minister of Labor is enough, she says. The Ministry of Labor and Integration replies in an e-mail to news that the framework today gives the opportunity to adapt the work to the intended health. State Secretary Per Olav Skurdal Hopsø. Photo: Peder Martin Bergholt / news – As far as possible, work should be facilitated for employees with reduced working capacity, says Per Olav Skurdal Hopsø. He is state secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Integration. The sick pay scheme also gives the right to be away from work with full pay if you are unable to work due to illness, he points out. – Drastically with an automatic right NHO thinks it is not a good idea to introduce menstruation. – I think that it is drastic to introduce an automatic right even now that we are struggling with a high level of sickness absence, says regional director of NHO Vestfold and Telemark, Kristin Saga. Regional manager in NHO Vestfold and Telemark, Kristin Saga. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news She believes that the current arrangements with sick pay and self-reporting meet the needs of women who struggle to go to work due to menstrual pain. – It is the individual’s doctor who assesses whether a person needs a sick leave, in addition we have self-report days that can be used, says Saga. – Could it not mean that women with pain are able to perform better at work if they are given the opportunity for two self-report days a month? – After all, we can report ourselves sick regardless of the reason, and then it becomes a bit special to have special arrangements for single diagnoses. Then we can suddenly have a discussion about other diagnoses too, she says. Saga believes that good cooperation between management and employees can facilitate this. – Both employees and managers have a great responsibility to make sure that the resources and working hours of the individual are taken care of as much as possible, says Saga. The government has set up a committee to look at women’s health at work, and proposals for measures must be submitted by 1 April 2025. Published 16/09/2024, at 14.07 Updated 16.09.2024, at 14.18
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MDG believes women with severe menstrual cramps should be given the right to time off – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
