The Government has rejected calls for a large scale pilot of menopause leave, in a move described as a "missed opportunity" by a Commons committee. Ministers have also resisted a recommendation from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee to make menopause a "protected characteristic" under the Equalities Act.
The recommendations formed a key plank of a report by the cross-party committee in July last year focusing on menopause and the workplace, but in a response published today (Tuesday, Jan 24) the Government rejected the two suggestions. Committee chairwoman Caroline Nokes questioned the Government’s commitment to the issue of menopause.
In a letter to health minister Maria Caulfield, the Conservative MP said she was disappointed that "very little new work has been committed to by the Government" in response to the committee’s report, as she expressed concern that the Government had ignored what she termed the "significant evidence base" for menopause being seen as a "protected characteristic". But the Government, in rejecting the recommendation, suggested that such an approach might not be the best solution to support women.
