Labour pledges guidance

The Labour Party has promised to introduce new menopause guidance to support women who work for small businesses if it wins power at the next general election.

The guidance, pledged by shadow women and equalities secretary Aneliese Dodds at a Women in Work summit in London, will outline how smaller employers can support workers going through the menopause by introducing measures such as different uniforms, cooler areas to work and flexible working arrangements.

Dodds said: “Women in their 40s and 50s are often holding down jobs, and caring for children and elderly family members while experiencing menopausal symptoms. Labour is on the side of these women, wherever they work.

“With the right support we can unleash the talent and creativity of women throughout our economy. It’s good for those women, good for employers and good for our economy as a whole.”

A Labour government will also require larger organisations to publish a menopause action plan.