Ministers reject menopause proposals

Ministers’ rejection of the Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendation to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act was last month met with widespread criticism.

MPs also stymied a proposal for public sector employers to “develop and pilot a specific menopause leave policy”.

General secretary of the retail trade union, Usdaw, Paddy Lillis expressed his deep disappointment saying that the government has “missed a significant opportunity to make a real difference to the working lives of so many women”.

• National standards body the British Standards Institution has set up a drafting panel to write a British Standard on menstrual and menopausal health in the workplace. It is aimed at those responsible for managing individuals’ performance, workload, wellbeing, or work environment.