RSS Feed

Legal Updates

More Articles: Latest Popular Archives

House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee publishes government response to menopause and the workplace report

Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead Burton

The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee published the government’s response to the menopause and the workplace report published on 28 July 2022.

The response notes that the government has already committed to make the right to request flexible working a day-one right for all employees and accepts some of the Committee’s recommendations in principle, including the proposed appointment of a Menopause Ambassador, the launch of a menopause public health campaign and teaching in schools. Other recommendations are accepted in part, including in relation to the production of guidance by the Health and Safety Executive.

However, the response rejects a number of recommendations made by the Committee, including that the government should:

  • in consultation with the Menopause Ambassador, produce model menopause policies to assist employers.
  • work with a large public sector employer with a strong public profile to develop and pilot a specific ‘menopause leave’ policy.
  • immediately commence section 14 of the Equality Act 2010; and
  • consult on making menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

In response, the Committee notes concerns that the government has ignored a significant evidence base for equality law reform and calls on the government to review its position. The Committee also highlights the low cost but high impact opportunities for model workplace menopause policies and menopause leave, which the government has dismissed.

Receive more HR related news and content with our monthly Enewsletter (Ebrief)