Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact for (a) employers and (b) employees of women needing to reduce their working hours due to the menopause; and the affect this may have on the gender pay gap.

The Department does not collect data on the impact of the menopause on employees leaving the workforce or reducing their hours.

The former Minister for Employment commissioned the roundtable on older workers to look at the menopause and employment as an issue, emphasising the importance of the support and understanding by employers. An independent menopause and the workplace report was published and the Government’s response was outlined in July.

Alongside this, and separately, The Women’s Health Strategy sets out a range of commitments including encouraging employers to implement evidence-based workplace support and introduce workplace menopause policies.