A conversation about Japan’s menstrual leave policy is batting around the Internet. At the Atlantic, Emily Matchar writes,

Japan has had menstrual leave since just after World War II. According to the 1947 Labor Standards Law, any women suffering from painful periods or whose job might exacerbate period pain are allowed seirikyuuka (literally “physiological leave”). At the time the law was written, women were entering the workforce in record numbers, and workplaces like factories, mines and bus stations had little by way of sanitary facilities.

In Taiwan, a 2013 law guarantees female workers three days of menstrual leave a year, in addition to the 30 days of half-paid sick leave allotted to all workers. Indonesia and South Korean have similar laws.

Katy Waldman at Slate thinks that menustrual leave policies are a bad idea.

My reaction is a WTF. It’s silly to talk about time off for your period, when the United States has about the worst work-life balances laws among Western nations. We have the worst records on paid maternity leave. We have terrible sick leave policies.

I think we can suffer through cramps and PMS. Deal with the bigger problems first.