Proposals to change UK legislation to protect the rights of women experiencing menopause have been in part rejected by the government due to fears such a move would discriminate against men.
(Read the full story in the Guardian newspaper).
Menopause Support founder Diane Danzebrink was invited to give her reaction to the decision on the Jeremy Vine BBC Radio Two programme and BBCR5 Live.
Speaking on Jeremy Vine’s programme on Tuesday, Diane said she was disappointed by the government decision “but you get used to disappointment, working in this space”.
“The Government has missed a perfect opportunity to lead on this by including menopause in the Equalities Act by making it a protected characteristic” she told listeners.
Defending the government decision, journalist and broadcaster Libby Purves said according to the British Menopause Society, only one woman in four suffers debilitating symptoms “leaving three-quarters of us just to joke and stomp our way through it”.
Diane countered her view, noting that a lot of progressive employers had done lots of work on menopause, recognising otherwise they risk losing really valuable talent in the workplace
“From an economic this makes sense, but these employers also recognise it’s the right thing to do”she added.
There are now more women over 50 in the workplace than there have ever been before.
Diane reacts to the government decision on BBC Radio 5 Live
Diane and journalist Libby Purves put the arguments for and against the government decision on the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 programme.