A top employment lawyer has issued crucial advice to employers and HR bosses on what they must do now after the Government rejected proposals to introduce ‘menopause leave’ pilots in England.
Claire Brook, Employment Law Partner at legal firm Aaron & Partners, said it was vital employers pay close attention to issues surrounding the menopause. She added that employers should now seriously consider creating a policy of their own to prevent issues before they arise.
According to Ms Brook, forward-looking companies should be looking to steal a march on their competitors by creating a workplace culture where staff feel comfortable to talk openly and respectfully about the subject.
It comes after Government ministers rejected a suggestion from the Women and Equalities Committee to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.
Ms Brook said: “The impact of menopause is an important issue for employers to consider – particularly given the number of workers who will be affected by it.
“A recent study by the British Menopause Society revealed 45% of women said their menopause symptoms had a negative impact on their work.
“A big problem is that for many women, these symptoms last for a number of years.”
Back in July 2022, the Committee released its report claiming that the impact of the menopause was causing companies to ‘haemorrhage talent’. It described the Government’s progress on menopause as “glacial”.
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