Can women get ‘menopausal leave’ at work? MPs call on ministers to intervene after reporting that many employees receive ‘little support’ with their symptoms
- Government has been told to test ‘menopausal leave’ for struggling women
- Some are forced to cut back on hours and responsibilities because of ‘little support’
- MPs have urged ministers to come up with plans to roll out policy within a year
- Symptoms recorded in a survey include loss of confidence and increased stress
Ministers should test ‘menopausal leave’ to prevent women from being forced out of the workplace, MPs have urged.
In a report published today, the House of Commons Committee on Women and Equality finds that many women receive ‘little support’ with their symptoms.
Some are forced to reduce hours and responsibilities, while others leave work altogether because of “insensitive and rigid illness policies,” MPs said.
They urged ministers to launch a “menopause” policy pilot and come up with plans to roll it out within a year.
Menopause symptoms can have a significant and sometimes debilitating impact on women at work.
One study found that two-thirds of women experienced a ‘loss of confidence’ due to menopausal symptoms, and another 70 percent reported increased stress levels (file image)
“The government should work with a major public sector employer with a strong public profile to develop and test a specific transitional leave policy, review the scheme and propose further rollouts within 12 months of the start of to provide the scheme.’
A survey commissioned by the commission found that 67 percent of women reported a “loss of confidence” due to menopausal symptoms and 70 percent increased stress.
Yet only 12 percent of respondents said they’d looked for workplace adjustments, with a quarter citing fear of how their employer would react as a reason for not doing so.
MEPs advised ministers to discuss how menopause could become a protected feature under the Equality Act 2010, such as pregnancy or maternity.
And they called on the government to do away with dual prescription charges for estrogen and progesterone — both components in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — and introduce a single batch that incorporates both hormones.
Ministers were also urged to designate a menopause ambassador as a ‘champion of good practice’.
Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chair of the committee, said: ‘Menopause is inevitable. However, the steady bleeding of talented women from our workforce is not. Stigma, shame and rejecting cultures can and must be dismantled.
“It is imperative that we build workplaces — and a society — that not only support those going through menopause, but also encourage some of the most experienced and skilled workers in our economy to thrive.” Women with menopause symptoms were allowed to use a type of HRT without a prescription for the first time in the UK last week.
The landmark decision means that postmenopausal women will be able to get a low-dose over-the-counter HRT product at their local pharmacy without visiting their GP first.
It follows a Daily Mail campaign calling on women to have better access to HRT products and information about menopause.
The announcement by the drug and healthcare products regulatory agency applies to Gina 10-microgram tablets containing estradiol and follows a safety review.