The government has released new details on measures to support women experiencing menopause in the workplace.
Survey reveals impact on work performance
A survey of 1,000 women revealed that 45% felt menopausal symptoms had a detrimental effect on their work performance, whilst 47% would not disclose the true reason for menopause-related absences to employers.
Satvir Kaur, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office, said: "Effective workplace support for menopause symptoms is crucial not only for employee wellbeing, but also for ensuring employers can retain valuable skills and experience."
New guidance and action plans
The government has launched voluntary action plans for large employers and published guidance on the ACAS website covering practical measures such as uniform adaptations and workplace temperature control.
Around 13 million women in the UK are currently peri- or menopausal, equivalent to a third of the entire female population, with nearly eight in ten menopausal women currently in employment.
Charity response
The British Menopause Society has said: "Many women have said that they often find managing their menopause symptoms in the workplace very challenging. Coping with symptoms in the workplace can be hard, especially as many women find it difficult to talk about menopause at work."
