Following the news that MPs are calling for women to get greater rights in the workplace when going through menopause, Philip Richardson, a partner and head of employment law at Stephensons, commented: “Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for many people experiencing the menopause to feel unsupported and stigmatised in the workplace.
“While we have seen some employers introduce specific menopause policies, this is still in the minority and for many smaller companies, it isn’t even on the radar.
"At the moment, an employee could explore a claim under the Equality Act via existing protected characteristics such as age, sex and disability discrimination, however this can often be a complex undertaking and it is often difficult to bring claims under the existing legislative framework.
"It is clear that more must be done to facilitate a supportive working environment for employees experiencing menopause and to ensure that support is mirrored in legislation.”
