In a significant shift from his earlier controversial stance on work-life balance, S N Subrahmanyan, Chairperson and Managing Director of Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T), has announced the implementation of one-day paid menstrual leave for women employees across the organization. This announcement comes months after he faced public backlash for advocating 90-hour workweeks and making contentious remarks about employees' personal lives.
New Menstrual Leave Policy
The new policy, announced during a company event commemorating International Women's Day, is set to benefit approximately 5,000 female employees at L&amp;T. According to company data, women constitute about nine percent of L&amp;T's total workforce of 60,000 employees.
While specific implementation details are still forthcoming, the company has clarified that the menstrual leave benefit will be restricted to employees of the L&amp;T parent company. Employees of L&amp;T subsidiaries operating in financial services and technology sectors will not be eligible for this benefit under the current policy framework.
This move positions L&amp;T among a growing number of Indian companies adopting progressive workplace policies. Food delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato have previously implemented similar menstrual leave policies, though the practice has yet to be widely adopted across major Indian corporations.
Government Initiatives and Legal Framework
At the state level, four Indian states have already established menstrual leave provisions for government employees:
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Bihar (pioneered menstrual leave in India)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Odisha</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Sikkim</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Kerala</li>
</ul>
The Supreme Court of India addressed this issue in 2023, recommending that the central government formulate a comprehensive national policy regarding menstrual leave. This suggestion underscores the growing recognition of menstrual health as a workplace concern requiring formal policy attention.
The 90-Hour Workweek Controversy
This policy announcement follows a controversial incident in January 2025, when Subrahmanyan faced significant criticism after a video from an L&amp;T video conference went viral. In the video, he advocated for employees to work 90 hours per week, making remarks that many viewed as dismissive of work-life balance and personal relationships.
During the conference, Subrahmanyan was quoted saying: "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working. Honestly, I am sorry that I am not able to make you work on Sundays. I will be happier if I can make you work on Sundays because I work on Sundays too."
The comments sparked widespread debate about corporate culture, work-life balance, and leadership communication in the modern workplace, with many criticizing the remarks as out of touch with contemporary understanding of employee wellbeing and productivity.
Changing Corporate Landscape
L&amp;T's introduction of menstrual leave represents part of a broader shift in corporate India toward acknowledging women's health concerns in workplace policies. The move may signal L&amp;T's efforts to rehabilitate its corporate image following the earlier controversy and position itself as progressive on gender-inclusive policies.
However, workplace advocates note that meaningful progress requires comprehensive approaches that address multiple dimensions of gender equality, including equitable hiring practices, promotion opportunities, and addressing the full spectrum of health and family needs facing employees of all genders.
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Corporate giant shifts stance on women's health while most Indian states, firms remain hesitant

L&T Grants Menstrual Leave After Work Hours Row

Corporate giant shifts stance on women's health while most Indian states, firms remain hesitant

March 8, 2025 | 12:22 IST