Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Menopause and the workplace

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Jul 2021 Closed: 6 Feb 2024 12 recommendations 1 conclusion 1 report

This inquiry examines the extent of discrimination faced by menopausal people in the workplace, and investigates how Government policy and workplace practices can better support those experiencing menopause. A 2019 survey conducted by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that three in five menopausal women- usually aged between 45 and 55- were …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Menopause and the Workplace HC 91 28 Jul 2022 13 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
1 Recommendation First Report - Menopause and the Workpl… Accepted in Part

Menopause still carries significant social and cultural stigma, particularly for certain groups, including LGBT+ people...

Menopause still carries significant social and cultural stigma, particularly for certain groups, including LGBT+ people and young and ethnic minority women. We are encouraged by the recent shift towards talking about menopause more openly, by the inclusion of menopause in the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum and the recognition …

Government response. The government accepts the recommendation in principle, stating that it is developing a communications plan for the introduction of the HRT pre-payment certificate (PPC) and has work underway across government to raise awareness of the menopause.
Government Equalities Office
2 Recommendation First Report - Menopause and the Workpl… Accepted in Part

GPs will be the first port of call for many women who are experiencing perimenopause...

GPs will be the first port of call for many women who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause. It is vital that women can trust their GPs and that GPs feel confident and well-equipped in diagnosing a condition that affects half the population. Menopause must be given more priority in both …

Government response. The government agrees in part, stating that healthcare professionals should be well informed on menopause, and details existing national frameworks and planned resources to support training and awareness, including an optimal pathway for patients and non-mandatory webinars.
Government Equalities Office
4 Recommendation First Report - Menopause and the Workpl… Accepted in Part

We are extremely disappointed that despite a clear Government commitment on a single-cost, annual pre-payment...

We are extremely disappointed that despite a clear Government commitment on a single-cost, annual pre-payment certificate for HRT, almost nine months later that commitment has not been realised. Progress has been further derailed by supply issues. We welcome the Health Secretary’s announcement of an ‘HRT tsar’ to consider the challenges …

Government response. The government is committed to reducing the cost of HRT prescriptions and will introduce a bespoke pre-payment certificate (PPC) for HRT medicines from April 2023, and will provide comprehensive material for women, prescribers and pharmacists, but has no plans to …
Government Equalities Office
5 Recommendation First Report - Menopause and the Workpl… Accepted in Part

We recommend that the Government commits to removing dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone,...

We recommend that the Government commits to removing dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone, replacing it with a single charge for all women. We also recommend that the Government works with the NHS and the ‘HRT tsar’ to develop a national formulary for HRT. Both of these recommendations should …

Government response. The government accepts in part, committing to the bespoke HRT PPC which will reduce annual prescription charges, but states it has no plans to further reduce HRT prescription charges. It will continue to assess NHS formularies, maintain dialogue with industry, …
Government Equalities Office
11 Recommendation First Report - Menopause and the Workpl… Accepted in Part

Neither the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) nor the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)...

Neither the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) nor the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provides any advice on menopause on its website. This should be rectified. The HSE and EHRC should publish guidance on the legal considerations when supporting employees experiencing menopause, within the next six months.

Government response. The government accepts in part, stating the HSE will develop strengthened guidance that will give a set of clear and simple ‘principles’ that employers would be expected to apply, to support disabled people and those with long term health conditions …
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
20 Jun 2023 Helen Tomlinson · The Adecco Group, Maria Caulfield MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Marian Holliday · Department for Health and Social Care, Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions, Natalie Keogh · Department for Work & Pensions View ↗
22 Mar 2023 Carol Vorderman · Menopause Mandate, Karen Arthur · Menopause Whilst Black, Kate Muir, Mariella Frostrup · Menopause Mandate View ↗
16 Mar 2022 Maria Caulfield MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Michael Warren · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Paul Scully MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, William Vineall · Department of Health and Social Care View ↗
9 Feb 2022 Chris Pitt · First Direct, Claire McCartney · Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Deborah Garlick · Henpicked - Menopause in the Workplace, Lynda Bailey, Nikki Pound · TUC, Sharon Ollivier · South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust View ↗
19 Jan 2022 Adam Pavey · Pannone Corporate, Colin Davidson · Discrimination Law Association, Marian Bloodworth · Deloitte Legal View ↗
8 Dec 2021 Amy Bennie · Daisy Network, Karen Arthur View ↗
17 Nov 2021 Dr Heather Currie MBE · British Menopause Society, Dr Nighat Arif · NHS and Private, Professor Joanna Brewis · The Open University Business School View ↗

Correspondence

13 letters
DateDirectionTitle
5 Jul 2023 Correspondence from the Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, re…
23 Mar 2023 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy relating…
17 Mar 2023 From cttee Letter to the Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy relating t…
1 Mar 2023 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy relating…
25 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Maria Caulfield on the Government's Response to the Co…
3 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health …
20 Oct 2022 To cttee Letter from Marcial Boo, CEO of the EHRC relating to Menopause and the Workplace
8 Jun 2022 Correspondence from Minister for Work & Pensions (Lords) and Minister for Women…
8 Jun 2022 Correspondence from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Primary Care and…
12 May 2022 Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Primary Care and Patient Safe…
12 May 2022 Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Women relating to the Committ…
28 Mar 2022 Correspondence from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, BEIS to Carolyn Har…
16 Feb 2022 Correspondence to the Chair from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for pri…