Government rejects recommendations including menopause leave trial – “Missed opportunity” or “preventing the risk of discrimination against men”?
A recent government response has rejected several key recommendations relating to menopause and the workplace, put forward by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee.
According to the committee, some of the key recommendations rejected by the government include conducting a consultation on making menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and piloting a specific menopause leave policy within a large-scale public-sector employer.
In response to the above rejections, the chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP said that this “was as missed opportunity to protect vast numbers of talented and experienced women from leaving the workforce”. However, the government response, among other things, argued that it was important to avoid unintended consequences such as creating discrimination risks towards men suffering from long-term medical conditions.
The Equality Act 2010 is a robust piece of legislation which protects employees as well as job applicants against unlawful discrimination on grounds of age; gender reassignment; being married or in a civil partnership; being pregnant or on maternity leave; disability; race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin; religion or belief; sex and sexual orientation.
Bhayani HR & Employment Law, which is one of the UK’s very few firms specialising exclusively on employment law and HR is best placed to assist employers as well as employees on matters relating to discrimination and the Equality Act 2010.
In addition to employment related legal advice, services offered by us include HR audits; drafting employee handbooks, policies and procedures; as well as providing specialist training relating to HR management.
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