Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions
Make menopause a protected characteristic and introduce new employment rights
Closed
1,157 signatures
What the petition asks
I am making this petition to call for Menopause to be made a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010 and for statutory "menopause leave" and flexible working to be introduced for female workers going through their menopause cycle, with rights to paid leave and to work from home.
Menopause is a cycle in which a woman stops having periods. This usually happens between 45 and 55 years old.
Symptoms can include: anxiety, changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, feeling of loss of self, hair loss, thinning, headaches, hot flushes, aches & pains, loss of self-confidence, memory fog etc.
There are up to 30 menopause symptoms which can have an impact on workplace performance.
Sign this petition to push the Government to make menopause a protected characteristic and grant new rights for female workers going through their menopause cycle.
Symptoms can include: anxiety, changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, feeling of loss of self, hair loss, thinning, headaches, hot flushes, aches & pains, loss of self-confidence, memory fog etc.
There are up to 30 menopause symptoms which can have an impact on workplace performance.
Sign this petition to push the Government to make menopause a protected characteristic and grant new rights for female workers going through their menopause cycle.
Timeline
| 8 Mar 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 8 Sep 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,157
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
8 Mar 2023
Closed
8 Sep 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.