Menopause and UK employment tribunals

Menopause at center of increasing number of UK employment tribunals.

Growing numbers of women are taking their employers to court citing the menopause as proof of unfair dismissal and direct sex discrimination.

According to the latest UK data, there were five employment tribunals referencing the claimant’s menopause in 2018, six in 2019 and 16 in 2020. There have been 10 in the first six months of 2021 alone.

A claimant who was having 12 hot flushes a day and was woken eight times every night by sweats was ruled disabled by reason of the menopause. Another claimant was told by her female boss it was “no big deal” that she would face menopause at the age of 37 and no longer be able to conceive children.

The number of tribunals cases can be attributed to improved education and information, making women better informed and more empowered.

Employers need to tackle this concern proactively or you might be exposed to an unnecessary employment tribunal claim.

Did you know that as an employer you could face the following menopausal claims, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination?