UK Edition
Labour to introduce 'menopause leave' for women amid warnings that female employees are 'struggling in silence'
Companies will be required to grant women ‘menopause leave’ and flexible working hours if Jeremy Corbyn wins power, Labour has announced.
Under plans to break the stigma and discrimination of middle-aged women in the workplace, Labour will introduce mandatory requirements for all businesses that employ more than 250 people.
Labour’s shadow equalities minister, Dawn Butler, will on Saturday unveil a series of new proposals at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, including the need for new absence procedures to “accommodate menopause as a long-term fluctuating health condition”.
Writing for The Telegraph ahead of the announcement, Ms Butler warns that many women are “silently covering up their symptoms and struggling in silence” due to fears of disclosing their symptoms to male or younger bosses.
Citing new research, she claims that many women lack confidence and support in the workplace, leading some to overwork to cover up “perceived shortcomings”, whilst others switch to part-time or leave work altogether.
“Most women will go through the menopause at some point in their life. Yet, similarly to menstruation, there is a stigma around talking about this natural part of ageing,” she writes.
“Why should women feel ashamed to talk about this? And why should they have to quietly suffer when struggling with the ongoing symptoms associated with it?
“Women should not be at a disadvantage because of the symptoms of menopause. We are a vital part of the workforce and the workforce should be fit for us to thrive in.”
The Telegraph is currently running a Women Mean Business campaign to boost female entrepreneurship in Britain and highlight the barriers facing women in the workplace.
Under Labour’s plans, firms would be made to train managers on the effects of the menopause on working women so they can accommodate their needs.
Employers will also be made to carry out risk assessments to ensure that the work environment is not worsening menopausal women's symptoms.
Recommended adjustments include providing adequate ventilation to help alleviate hot flushes, ensure access to cold water and give flexible working hours if sleep is disturbed.
Three in five menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 55 say it has a negative impact on them at work, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Other Labour policies on women in the workplace include forcing large companies to publish action plans to close the gender pay gap, and to tackle harassment at work through the Equality Act.