Employers could be sued for disability discrimination if they fail to make “reasonable adjustments” for women going through menopause under new guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), amid concern over the number of women leaving their jobs due to symptoms.
If the symptoms have a long term and substantial impact on a woman’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities they may be considered a disability, the EHRC say.
Under the Equality Act 2010, an employer will be under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments and to not discriminate against workers.
The guidance also states that workers experiencing symptoms may be protected against less favourable treatment related to their menopause symptoms on the grounds of age and sex.
We’d like to hear from women in the UK what their experiences of their workplaces was like while they went through perimenopause.
What did you or do you find helpful? Was or is your employer accommodating? Is there anything you believe your employer should be doing differently to better meet the needs of perimenopausal staff?
