Roughly a third of the UK female population is going through menopause or perimenopause;  yet many employers fail to sufficiently support women in their workforce with many facing a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms.

Unite’s survey of 11,000 union reps found that a staggering 83 per cent of menopausal women do not have access to support within Britain’s workplaces. Among these women, many expressed feeling uncomfortable talking about their experience in male-dominated work environments or even being denied basic adjustments in the workplace such as fans or a leave of absence.

As Unite continues to fight for the health and well-being of workers across all its industrial sectors , we demand that employers understand their responsibilities to staff and take action to create a menopause-friendly workplace. Unite will continue to raise awareness and support members through the network of its workplace reps to ensure employers address the issue of menopause and introduce and enforce positive policies.

We have also introduced a standalone model policy that reps can bring to the bargaining table and health and safety forums. We must ensure this issue is addressed in the workplace, it's time to ensure employers introduce positive menopause policies that reflect a commitment to women’s health and safety.

Download Unite Menopause at work | A key workplace issue documents below ⬇️