Menopause tribunals triple in three years

There has been an “alarming” rise in employment tribunals citing menopause over the last two years, according to the Menopause Experts Group, a menopause education service.

The group’s annual Trial of Menopause Report found that menopause was cited in tribunal cases 23 times in 2021, a 44% increase on 16 citings in 2020 and more than three times the number (seven) found in 2019. Menopause was also mentioned 207 times in tribunal documents in 2021, a 75% rise from 118 in 2020 and nearly four times the 57 mentions in 2019.

Of the 23 tribunals citing menopause last year, 16 were cases of disability discrimination, 10 claimed sex discrimination and 14 took the employer to task for unfair dismissal.

“Too many employers without robust menopause policies are risking legal action from workers,” warned the group’s chief executive Dee Murray. “This simply must change to protect women and prevent legal action that can be costly, financially and in reputation.”