Workplace standards for menopause and menstruation

Menopause remains a critical topic. The Employment Rights Bill includes provisions to enhance workplace support for women experiencing menopause.

This may include flexible working arrangements or comfortable working environments, such as cooling systems, quiet rooms, and more flexibility in uniform requirements.

This legislation will also require larger employers (over 250 employees) to develop and publish menopause action plans and will provide guidance for smaller employers to adapt workplaces.

In the meantime, the guidance from the British Standards Institute (BSI), ‘BS 30416, Menstruation, Menstrual Health and Menopause in the Workplace,’ remains a valuable resource for employers.

This guidance highlights the challenges, symptoms, and experiences associated with menopause and menstrual health, offering practical insights into how these can impact women in the workplace.

BS 30416 is a free, practical toolkit for businesses of all sizes and sectors. Developed by experts in the field of menstruation, menopause and occupational health and academics, it aims to help organisations identify the misconceptions around menstruation and menopause.

It also identifies the impact of stigma surrounding these topics on workplace cultures and support. The standard helps businesses to take action to make their workplace more inclusive.

It contains examples of actions and adjustments that can improve employees’ wellbeing.

Examples include:

• Physical aspects of work
• Policy guidance and practices
• Supportive workplace cultures
• Work design
• Inclusivity
• Evaluation and metrics