Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Paragraph: 64
The Government has a key strategic role in helping businesses and should lead the way...
Recommendation
The Government has a key strategic role in helping businesses and should lead the way in developing and disseminating good practice. The Government should appoint a Menopause Ambassador to work with stakeholders from business (including small to medium enterprises), unions, and advisory groups to encourage and disseminate awareness, good practice and guidance to employers. The Menopause Ambassador should publish a six-monthly report on the progress made by businesses, and such report should include examples of good practice as well as noting particularly poor practice.
Government Response Summary
The government will appoint a Menopause Employment Champion, reporting to DWP Ministers, to drive forward work with employers and spearhead a collaborative employer-led campaign, and will consider having a six-monthly report on progress made by business after the appointment has been made and terms of engagement agreed.
Paragraph Reference:
64
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
57. The government accepts this recommendation in principle. 58. This recommendation is in line with the recent government response18 to the independent menopause and the workplace report19 commissioned by the then Minister for Employment through the DWP 50PLUS Roundtable. 59. The independent report calls for the appointment of a Menopause Ambassador, to which the government response commits to the appointment of a Menopause Employment Champion to drive forward work with employers on menopause workplace issues and to spearhead the proposed collaborative employer-led campaign as outlined in the independent report. Key to the role will be to give a voice to menopausal women, promoting their economic contribution, and working with employers to keep people experiencing menopause symptoms in work and progressing. 60. The Menopause Employment Champion will be a DWP Ministerial appointment, reporting to and consulting with DWP Ministers at regular intervals. The Champion will also work with the Women’s Health Ambassador on the issue of menopause and employment, ensuring there is no duplication of activity between the two roles, and exploring opportunities for joint working. We envisage that the Champion’s role will focus on matters specifically affecting employers to ensure they are engaged and supported going forward, whilst the Ambassador will engage with a broader range of stakeholders. 61. We are supportive in principle of having a six-monthly report on progress made by business, including examples of good practice. We will appoint the Menopause Employment Champion in due course. Decisions on progress reports, including their frequency, will be determined once the relevant appointment has been made and terms of engagement have been agreed.