Menopause in the workplace

Campaigners, journalists, personnel professionals and academics draw upon published research [1][2][3] and lobby for support for workers via industrial trades unions (including ACAS,[4] TUC,[5] UCU,[6] UNISON,[7] EIS,[8] NASUTW[9]) and changes in legislation.

[12][17] A June 2023 study by the Mayo Clinic estimated an annual loss of $1.8 billion in the United States due to workdays missed as a result of menopause symptoms.

The research concluded there was a strong need to improve medical treatment for menopausal women and make the workplace environment more supportive to avoid such productivity losses.

The impact of employers failing to make reasonable adjustments include loss of work days due to absence[24] and women being disciplined on competency grounds for health issues.

[2] The CIPD have produced a range of guides for HR professionals and managers [27] There remains a research gap in evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions.

For many women it is experienced as a 'double or triple whammy' of home and workplace responsibilities coming as it does just at the time when their children are teenagers, their parents are elderly and they have just made it back from a career break.

A 2018 Radio 4 Woman's Hour poll that found that 48% of women experiencing the menopause reported that it had "a negative impact on their mental health and mood".

[39][15][40] As it stands, UK law fails to provide proper redress for women who are discriminated against in the workplace as a result of their menopausal status.

We call on the Government to commence section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 to allow dual discrimination claims based on more than one protected characteristic.

[41][42][43] There are a number of high-profile media professionals and journalists in the UK who have worked to raise awareness of menopause through sharing their own experiences publicly.

[52] Academics who research in this area include: Jo Brewis,[53][54] Belinda Steffan,[55][56] Wendy Loretto[57] and Myra Hunter.

There are clear health and safety implications for women, their colleagues, and the general public, if we do not support, understand and deal with menopause issues properly.

"[65] Other women who have spoken about their experiences include Carolyn Harris,[66] Julie Marson,[67] Maria Caulfield,[67] and Caroline Nokes.

[68] Dawn Butler, in her role as Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, announced the Labour Party's commitment to introduce a menopause workplace policy including providing and ensuring flexible working policies and absence procedures that cater for women experiencing the menopause.