Trial for ‘Menopause Leave’ is Rejected
A proposal for menopause leave pilots has been rejected by ministers
Ministers have rejected a proposal from MPs about introducing ‘menopause leave’ pilots in England. They argued that it was focused on encouraging employers to implement workplace menopause policies instead, and said that this could be “counterproductive”.
Actions on ‘menopause leave’ were suggested by the Women and Equalities Committee after accusing ministers of making “glacial progress” on menopause support in the workplace. In July 2022, they published a report about the impact of menopause on the UK economy. It said the lack of support was forcing women out of work and made numerous recommendations of how to give more rights to women at work. Read the report here.
The Response
In response to the committee, the government rejected five of the report’s proposals. This included a recommendation for the government to “develop and pilot a specific menopause leave policy”, which could stop women being “forced out of work by insensitive and rigid sickness policies”.
The government argued it was focused on encouraging employers to implement workplace menopause policies, saying "we are concerned that specific menopause leave may be counterproductive to achieving this goal".
The Equality Act
The government also dismissed a recommendation to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. This is because such a move could have “unintended consequences which may inadvertently create new forms of discrimination, for example, discrimination risks towards men suffering from long term medical conditions or eroding existing protections".
Whilst this means it is not a requirement for schools and academies to provide reasonable adjustments for menopausal employees, Handsam strongly encourages organisations to provide information and ways of implementing this in their menopause and staff wellbeing policy.
Menopause may not directly be mentioned in the Equality Act, but sex, disability and age are all protected characteristics under this law and any discrimination based on these attributes is prohibited.
What Does Handsam Offer?
According to research by CIPD, three out of five (59%) working women between the ages of 45 and 55 who are experiencing menopause symptoms say it has a negative impact on them at work. The effects of menopause can lead to staff feeling ill, losing confidence to do their job or feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. It is important that they are supported through this stage.
This is where Handsam's template policy comes in:
Policy
Handsam’s menopause policy recognises that menopause is an equality and occupational health issue and aims to create appropriate flexibility, support and reasonable adjustments for people experiencing menopausal symptoms, or are in the before or after stages of menopause.
This policy will guide you through how to implement reasonable adjustments for menopausal staff members and give a list of suggestions of adjustments that can be made.
Handsam provides a policy template and a policy writing service which are in addition to your subscription to the Quick Guides Library. Please contact us for details - via info@handsam.co.uk or 03332 070737.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a normal stage of life that usually occurs around the age of 50 whereby menstrual periods stop and the production of oestrogen decreases. An estimated 13 million people are living with menopause in the UK, including women, trans people and intersex people.
Not everyone who goes through menopause will find their working lives impacted by extreme symptoms, but one in four women will experience symptoms that adversely affect their work. On average, these symptoms last between four to eight years, and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine estimates that one in 10 women will experience symptoms for up to 12 years.
Symptoms
Physical symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle aches and pains
- Heart palpitations
Psychological symptoms caused by hormonal changes include:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- 'Brain fog' or struggling to focus
- Low self-esteem
- Mood swings and low mood
- Poor concentration or memory
- Sleep disruption and insomnia
Oestrogen deficiency can cause:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis or chronic arthritis
- Dementia
- Cancer