Protect menopause like race or religion, MPS urge

THE menopause should be classed as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act like race or religion, a cross-party group of MPS has said.

A report by the Women and Equalities Committee found menopausal women are cutting back their working hours or leaving their jobs altogether, after struggling with symptoms and receiving little support from employers.

The committee has called for the Government to appoint a Menopause Ambassador to champion good practice in the workplace, and to pilot specific “menopause leave” so women are not restricted by “rigid sickness policies”.

Menopausal women are not served or protected by current law, the MPS argue, and employers have “poor awareness” of health and safety and equality law relating to the condition.

“Whilst the law rightly protects women from pregnancy and maternity discrimination, it does not specifically protect menopause,” the report said.

“This is anomalous, given all women will experience menopause, whilst not all women experience pregnancy.

“It is unsatisfactory that menopausal women must frequently present themselves as suffering from a disability in order to make an effective claim.” A new “protected characteristic” of meno- pause should be created, the report said, but added this would need “careful drafting and consultation”.

The report called on the Government to launch a consultation within six months on how to amend the Equality Act to introduce “a new protected characteristic of menopause, including a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for menopausal employees”, it added.

Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are all protected under the Equality Act.

Caroline Nokes, a Conservative MP and chairman of the committee, said: “It is imperative that we build workplaces – and a society – which not only supports those going through the menopause, but encourages some of the most experienced and skilled workers… in our economy to thrive.”

A government spokesperson said it would consider the Committee’s recommendations.

“We have put women’s health at the top of the agenda by publishing a Women’s Health Strategy for England, appointing the first-ever women’s health ambassador, and taking action to increase supply and reduce the cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy,” they added.