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A “guarantee from employers” is needed to support working women going through the menopause, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney’s MP has said in the House of Commons. 

Gerald Jones MP spoke during a Backbench Business Committee debate on Menopause held on October 26.

The debate was secured by the Labour MP for Swansea East, Carolyn Harris, and came during October, which is Menopause Awareness Month.

Ms Harris was unable to attend the debate so it was opened and led by Peter Dowd MP, who is a member and the treasurer of the all-party parliamentary group on menopause.

Speaking in the debate Mr Jones said: “Almost half of the UK working population are women, and those over 50 are the fastest growing group in the workplace, which highlights why this issue is such a priority. 

“We need to retain the skills and experience that those women have and support them so that they continue to thrive in their careers as they grow older, but evidence suggests that there is a lot of work to be done. 

“With one in ten women leaving the workforce because of their menopause symptoms, and thousands more reducing hours and avoiding promotion, it is vital that employers are given the tools to support those women and to change that.”

In a survey from 2019 carried out by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD), it was revealed that approximately three out of five women experiencing menopause, typically aged between 45 and 55, faced adverse effects in the workplace.

Mr Jones added that while there was “no one-size-fits-all answer” given women’s experiences and working environments “differ greatly”. 

He referred to the variety of symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, brain fog and anxiety, meaning that “individual needs” could mean that one employee needed flexible working hours while another would need a desk near a window to improve their working conditions. 

“We need a guarantee from employers that they will support staff who are experiencing symptoms to remain in work and to progress in their careers.”

“Still lots to do”

This comes after the all-party parliamentary group on menopause recommended seven reforms in its “Manifesto for Menopause” published in October 2023. 

These included: 

1. Menopause Health Check at age 40
2. National Formulary for HRT
3. Incentivising GP menopause diagnosis
4. Mandated menopause action plans in large companies
5. Licensing of female-specific testosterone
6. More funding for menopause research
7. Review and improve specialist care provision

Mr Jones also added when he started as an MP he “never imagined” he would be “talking about menopause”, which is a testament to progress but not a solution. 

Mr Jones continued: “We have come a long way in recent years, breaking down the barriers and making the menopause something that we are now all talking about. 

“There is still lots to do in terms of raising awareness, but a start has been made. Attending a session of menopause word bingo… was not something that I had thought I would do, but it helped to raise my awareness, which in turn will help me to advocate on behalf of the constituents I represent. 

“Now we need to take the next steps to ensure that women are supported and given the help that they need in the workplace and beyond.