Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance clarifies employers’ legal obligations

As published on The Times, 22nd February 2024:

Employers could be sued for disability discrimination if they fail to make “reasonable adjustments” for menopausal women such as allowing them to work from home or lowering the temperature in the office, the equalities watchdog has said.

Guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission has been issued to employers clarifying their legal obligations to women who are going through the menopause and experiencing symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, hot flushes and brain fog.

The guidance states that the symptoms of menopause can be considered a disability under the Equality Act if they have a “long-term and substantial ­impact” on a woman’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities. It also states that they should be protected from discrimination on grounds of age and sex.

Read the full article: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0b3796ff-7dae-4f65-b41b-a60117040640?shareToken=cdb4019d197cca4a3e3708342091790b