Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
First Report - Menopause and the Workplace
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 91
Published 28 July 2022
Recommendations
1
Accepted in Part
Para 18
Menopause still carries significant social and cultural stigma, particularly for certain groups, including LGBT+ people...
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
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
View Details →
2
Accepted in Part
Para 23
GPs will be the first port of call for many women who are experiencing perimenopause...
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
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
View Details →
3
Deferred
Para 26
It is unacceptable that there are parts of the country where women cannot access the...
Recommendation
It is unacceptable that there are parts of the country where women cannot access the specialist menopause services they need. By 2024, there should be a menopause specialist or specialist service in every Clinical Commissioning Group area. The Menopause Taskforce, …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to have a menopause specialist or specialist service in every Clinical Commissioning Group area by 2024, stating that it is not within the remit of central government to commission specialist health services and that Integrated Care Boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet local health needs.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
4
Accepted in Part
We are extremely disappointed that despite a clear Government commitment on a single-cost, annual pre-payment...
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
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 encourage GPs to issue 12-month prescriptions.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
5
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Government commits to removing dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone,...
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
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, and improve access to data on prescriptions.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
7
Accepted
Para 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, …
Read more
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.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
8
Rejected
Para 65
We recommend that the Government, in consultation with the Menopause Ambassador, produces model menopause policies...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government, in consultation with the Menopause Ambassador, produces model menopause policies to assist employers. The model policies should cover, as a minimum: how to request reasonable adjustments and other support; advice on flexible working; sick leave …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to produce model menopause policies to assist employers, stating they want to focus on highlighting and sharing best practice, which will avoid risk of duplication of effort.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
9
Rejected
Para 66
Menopause symptoms can have a significant and sometimes debilitating impact on women at work.
Recommendation
Menopause symptoms can have a significant and sometimes debilitating impact on women at work. The Government should work with a large public sector employer 48 Menopause and the workplace with a strong public profile to develop and pilot a specific …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to develop and pilot a specific ‘menopause leave’ policy, stating they are focusing on developing and promoting good practice and adoption across the Civil Service and NHS instead.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
10
Accepted
We are disappointed that the long-promised Employment Bill has still not materialised.
Recommendation
We are disappointed that the long-promised Employment Bill has still not materialised. The Government should bring forward legislation before the end of the current Parliament to make the right to request flexible working a day-one right for all employees. It …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to make flexible working a ‘day one’ right, committing to changes through regulations and supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill to deliver these changes, including allowing two statutory requests in a 12-month period and reducing administration time.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
11
Accepted in Part
Para 75
Neither the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) nor the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)...
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response Summary
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 in the work environment, which could also apply where workers are experiencing symptoms such as those that occur in the menopause. The Government will share the Committee’s recommendation with the EHRC, but action by the commission is not guaranteed.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
12
Rejected
Para 97
The current law does not serve or protect menopausal women.
Recommendation
The current law does not serve or protect menopausal women. Whilst the law rightly protects women from pregnancy and maternity discrimination, it does not specifically protect menopause. This is anomalous, given all women will experience menopause, whilst not all women …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to commence section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, and does not believe that introducing menopause as a new protected characteristic is the correct approach.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
13
Rejected
We are also persuaded that a new protected characteristic of menopause should be created, although...
Recommendation
We are also persuaded that a new protected characteristic of menopause should be created, although we acknowledge this will need careful drafting and consultation. The Government should launch a consultation on how to amend the Equality Act to introduce a …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to launch a consultation on amending the Equality Act to introduce a new protected characteristic of menopause.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →
Conclusions (1)
6
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 63
Menopause is a workplace issue. There is a legal, economic, and social imperative to address the needs of menopausal employees. We are not persuaded that a legal requirement for every workplace to have a menopause policy would embed meaningful change. But there is much that employers can and should do …
Government Response Summary
While supporting the ambition, the government does not believe a model menopause policy is necessary at this moment and will focus on highlighting and sharing best practice instead, due to much work already being underway.