In 2026, women continue to navigate barriers in the workplace that make it harder for them to advance in their careers. Their periods should not be one of them.
That’s why Global Catalyst is proud to support and advocate for menstrual leave policies in workplaces worldwide — and we’re leading by example.
In honor of Women’s Equality Day, we’re proud to announce that earlier this year, we started offering our full-time employees one paid day of menstrual leave each month. Because we believe every menstruator should have the freedom, support, and flexibility to manage their periods without stigma, shame, or apology.
“Providing a menstrual leave benefit for female employees shifts the workplace environment from one designed entirely around male standards to one that respects biological realities,” said Carrie Thiret, our Senior Director of Operations. “This policy ensures our employees never have to choose between their paycheck and their health.”
An estimated 2 billion people menstruate every month, and while the data varies, some studies have found that as many as 90% of them experience some form of menstrual cramps. Between 5 and 15% report cramps that are so severe and debilitating, they affect their daily activities.
The workplace was not designed with these realities in mind.
Despite decades of research and evidence proving that menstruation affects mental and physical health and well-being, the burden continues to fall on menstruators to quietly manage their periods behind the scenes, working through severe cramps, fatigue, nausea, migraines, body aches, and other painful symptoms in silence.
Women are expected to act as though their periods simply don’t exist. And we at Global Catalyst are committed to changing that.
“Every menstruator should have the freedom, support, and flexibility to manage their periods without stigma, shame, or apology.”
Our hope is that the benefits of our new menstrual leave policy reach far beyond our own workplace. By making this announcement public, we hope to start a broader conversation about what supporting women in the workplace actually looks like in practice, and inspire other organizations to consider how reshaping their own policies might lead to a healthier, happier, and ultimately higher-performing workplace.
We are not the first to implement this policy. In fact, a number of countries — including some of those in which we operate programs — have helped pave the way for more supportive menstrual health policies.
Girls in our programs advocate for menstrual equity. And we do, too!
Japan was the first country to introduce a national menstrual leave policy in 1947, mandating that employers provide time off to female employees who experience severe pain during their periods. Since then, Indonesia, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Zambia, Vietnam, and the Indian State of Karnataka have all instituted some form of menstrual leave policy (though in many instances, paid leave is not guaranteed).
In the United States, this policy is hardly even in the national conversation. Fewer than 1% of companies nationwide offer this benefit, even though an estimated 45% of Americans have expressed support for menstrual leave policies.
We are proud to be among the small number of trailblazing companies in the U.S. who are redefining what truly equitable workplaces look like for women. Inspired by companies like DIVA, Her First 100k, CHANI, ModiBodi, and Nuvento — whose own menstrual leave policies have helped bring greater visibility to the issue — we’re honored to join a broader movement in support of employees who menstruate.
Today and every day, we stand firmly in our belief that no menstruator should suffer in silence in the workplace. It’s past time for companies, organizations, and governments to rethink workplace policies that were never designed with women in mind — and to recognize that supporting their needs should not be seen as a special privilege, but as a fundamental part of creating an equitable workplace.
Because no one should have to choose between caring for their health and earning a paycheck. No one should have to hide their pain to prove their commitment to their work. And no one should have to apologize for having a period.
Want to know more about the policies we’re advocating for? Check out, We Condemn Child Marriage Abroad. It’s Time We End It At Home.
Global Catalyst mentors girls around the world to become powerful advocates and confident leaders. Our signature program, GLOW Club, connects girls in some of the world’s most underserved areas with trusted local mentors and a safe space to express themselves as they develop their agency, find their voice, and build their power. Since our founding, we’ve ignited the power of more than 100,000 girls, sparking a growing movement of youth-led change that is transforming communities — and the world — for the better.
