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📋 Toolbox Talk · Employment Rights

Menopause at Work:
Your Rights

When symptoms can count as a disability, what your employer must do, and where to get help.

📅 Last reviewed: October 2026📚 Acas · EHRC · Equality Commission NI · LRA🇬🇧 England, Wales & Scotland, with a Northern Ireland slideukworkrights.co.uk

⬇ Download free PDF

The law

Is the menopause protected?

The menopause is not itself listed as a protected characteristic.
You are protected from discrimination because of sex, age and disability.
Sex and age protection applies even if your symptoms are not a disability.
Protection covers direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

Disability

When symptoms can be a disability

Not automatically. It depends on the effect of your symptoms.
Disability means an impairment with a "substantial" and "long-term" effect on normal day-to-day activities.
"Substantial" means more than minor or trivial. "Long-term" means 12 months or more.
Only a tribunal can finally decide.

⚖ The key point

If your symptoms are a disability, your employer must make reasonable adjustments.

Adjustments

What your employer can do

Reasonable adjustments can include doing things another way, changing equipment, or flexible hours or part-time working.
Employers must assess workplace risks under health and safety law.
Acas says a risk assessment could look at: temperature and ventilation, uniforms that are too hot, somewhere suitable to rest, easy access to toilets, and cold drinking water.
Acas advises employers to record menopause-related sickness absence separately.

Menopause at work

Time off and flexible working

Employees can ask for flexible working from their first day. The employer must decide within 2 months and discuss the request before refusing it.
There is no general legal right to time off for menopause-related appointments, but your contract may give you time off.
If your symptoms are a disability, time off for appointments can be a reasonable adjustment.
Employers with 250 or more workers can publish a menopause action plan now. It becomes mandatory in 2027 — this is not in force yet.

If it goes wrong

Treated badly?

Raise it with your employer first. Acas, Citizens Advice or your trade union can advise.
A discrimination claim needs no minimum length of service.
Before most tribunal claims you must notify Acas for early conciliation. It is free.
Time limit: 3 months less 1 day, or 6 months less 1 day where the act (or the last act in a series) happened on or after 1 October 2026.

⚠ Watch out

Notify Acas within your time limit, so the clock is paused.

Northern Ireland is different

Menopause at work in Northern Ireland

The disability law is the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Act 2010 does not apply.
If your symptoms meet that test, your employer must make reasonable adjustments.
A statutory flexible working request needs 26 weeks' continuous employment, and only one request in any 12-month period.
Before most claims, tell the Labour Relations Agency (LRA). Most claims: 3 months less 1 day.
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland may be able to help with a discrimination complaint.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is the menopause a disability?

Not automatically. It can be if your symptoms have a substantial and long-term effect on your day-to-day activities.

Can my employer count menopause absence against my attendance record?

Acas advises employers to record it separately, because counting it could be unfair or discriminatory.

Do I need to have worked there 2 years to complain?

No. A discrimination claim needs no minimum length of service.

Free rights guidance

Check your
menopause rights

Get plain-English guidance on your rights and your employer's legal duties.

Acas

0300 123 1100

Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · acas.org.uk

LRA (Northern Ireland)

03300 555 300

Labour Relations Agency

Equality Commission NI

028 9050 0600

Northern Ireland

Citizens Advice

England 0800 144 8848

Wales 0800 702 2020 · Scotland 0800 028 1456

Advice NI

0800 915 4604

Northern Ireland

UK Work Rights — Free guide

Menopause at Work (England, Wales and Scotland)

ukworkrights.co.uk/guide-menopause-at-work-gb.html

General rights guidance only — not legal advice · © UK Work Rights Ltd · Company No. 17228507 · ICO Registration No. ZC239465 · Registered office: 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ · hello@ukworkrights.co.uk
Published by UK Work Rights Ltd
Drafted with AI assistance, using official sources.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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