London: A community and arts centre based in Bristol, south-west England, has become the first employer in Britain to introduce a so-called "period leave" for women.

Coexist, which has a largely female workforce, said yesterday that it will offer workers the option of flexible working from home during their monthly menstruation cycle and any time off for the reason would not be classed as sick leave as employees would be allowed to make up for the time lost over the course of the month.