Menopause leave introduced for staff at London’s City Hall

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Staff at London’s City Hall are now able to take "menopause leave" as part of a new policy that has been launched by Sadiq Khan to mark International Women’s Day. The new initiative will see "temperature-controlled areas" to help women in the workplace who are going through menopause as the London Mayor attempts to tackle one of the "last workplace taboos". According to Metro.co.uk, the new menopause policy comes into play today and has been welcomed by women’s groups and experts. The move is expected to spark concerns in other companies across London but the Mayor is hoping that it will be copied by them and others around the world. Khan is aiming to end the embarrassment felt by some women when discussing menopause and how to confront employers who expect women to just work through it. This comes as research suggests that nearly one million women in the UK considered leaving their job due to lack of support at this time. City Hall hopes the policy will spark a revolution to support women going through menopause.

Ahead of the launch on Tuesday, Mr Khan told Metro.co.uk: "There should be no stigma or shame associated with the menopause, and by opening up this conversation, I want to show that a workplace discussion about menopause is normal, and that we can remove the stigma around those experiencing it.

"I want to encourage all other employers across London and the country to learn from our approach and follow suit.

"Employers have a responsibility to create truly inclusive workplaces and part of that means ensuring there is an understanding of the menopause and how it can affect staff, and challenging the taboos surrounding the subject, which all too often prevent people from getting the support they need."

Staff will need to request "suitable workplace adjustments" to allow for breaks if symptoms flare up, or time to attend medical appointments. They will also be able to request suitable changes to work tasks when they are experiencing symptoms, which can include hot flushes, anxiety and disrupted sleep. Private areas for resting and access to cold drinking water will also be made available. The policy ensures that staff "feel able and confident to ask for adjustments" and uniform changes will also be considered to accommodate women.