Announced today by Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Anneliese Dodds; the party has pledged to bring in a new requirement for large firms (over 250 employees) to publish and implement Menopause Action Plans, detailing how the company will support women going through menopause. They could include policies such as paid time off, uniform alterations or temperature control.
The move comes as research shows that one in 10 women left their jobs due to menopausal symptoms in 2022. The latest ONS Labour Market Statistics show that almost a third (31.7%) of women aged 50-64 were economically inactive. Labour said its plans would help get more people into work that suited their skills and experience, tackling high levels of inactivity and boosting economic growth.
Many UK businesses are already taking steps in this space, for example Usdaw secured new workplace menopause guidance at Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Usdaw continues their campaign to raise awareness of the menopause, for better workplace rights, along with supporting improved health and well-being for women in mid-life and beyond. The union plans to launch a new campaign on International Women’s Day, Wednesday 8 March 2023.
Angela Rayner, Labour Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work said: “Everyone should be supported to thrive at work. But all too often women going through the menopause are being let down. Under the Conservatives, the number of women leaving the workforce is skyrocketing, and productivity is plummeting as those who continue in work aren’t getting the support they need. This is bad for women, bad for business and bad for our economy.
“I know from working with many incredible women how hard it is to get on at work every day, whilst battling severe symptoms including depression, joint pain and extreme fatigue. It happens in every workplace, but too often women suffer in silence.
“Building on our New Deal for Working People, the next Labour Government will help employers to support the wellbeing of their female workers, and our proposals are a simple and effective way to do this. We want to work with businesses and trade unions to bring about practical solutions like this to improve productivity, keep more people in work and ultimately grow our economy for all.”
Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, said: “Women in their 50s are the fastest growing group in the workforce but they face significant pressures, and many are managing their menopause symptoms while holding down a job, caring for elderly parents and supporting their own children.
"No one should face having to step down from their job because of the menopause. Today’s announcement is a vital step forward in enabling those women to re-enter the workforce, progress their careers, or to keep working.”
"From access to vital healthcare, to support at work, the Conservatives have vacated the field on supporting women. Labour will ensure that these women are heard and supported through what can be a challenging time in their lives.”
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw welcomes the Labour Party’s commitment to introduce a requirement for large employers to publish menopause action plans. Women make up over half of Usdaw’s 352,000 members and over half of the UK workforce. All of these women will inevitably experience the perimenopause and menopause at some point in their lives and not necessarily in their late forties or early fifties.
“Despite a growing recognition amongst employers that workplace environments and practices can make symptoms worse too few women receive appropriate and timely support at work. The requirement for large employers to publish a menopause action plan will go a long way towards addressing this, particularly when developed in consultation with women workers and recognised trade unions.
“The new duty firmly establishes the menopause as an occupational health issue, helping to normalise conversations about the menopause in the workplace and better enabling women to access the adjustments they need to remain in work.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
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