The number of employment tribunals citing menopause has surged in recent years – and experts are now warning companies to increase support or face legal action.
Figures from HM Courts and Tribunals Service show that menopause was cited in just five instances in the past nine months, but it rose to ten cases within the first six months in 2021.
According to experts, women are becoming more vocal about their concerns regarding menopause discrimination.

Over five million British women aged between 40-55 are employed. About 80 per cent will suffer symptoms from the menopause.
There are 34 recognised menopause symptoms, including brain fog, electric shock ‘jolts’, itchiness, loss of libido, joint pain and a burning mouth, alongside the better-recognised hot flushes and irritability.
In Scotland, one woman claimed her boss humiliated her in front of colleagues in relation to her menopause symptoms, including an incident where she was called a ‘dinosaur’ in front of customers, The Times reported.
She was awarded £28,000. Maria Rooney, a 49-year-old social worker, accused Leicester City Council unfair dismissal.
She claimed that anxiety and depression she experienced during menopause were not taken into consideration.

Experts believe that women are more assertive in their fight against menopause-related discrimination
And Aggie Kownacka, a recruitment worker, was told by her boss that it was ‘no big deal’ that her cancer diagnosis would trigger early menopause at the age of 37, another tribunal heard.
Figures from HM Courts and Tribunals Service only refer to matters that were escalated to a English tribunal and don’t include a large number of privately resolved employment disputes.
Menopause was not mentioned in any employment dispute in 2017, however, it appeared eight times in 2017. It was also only mentioned once in the first six-months of 2021 by Menopause Experts.
‘The menopause revolution is coming – with growing calls for more awareness and support,’ said Sinead Casey, a partner at Linklaters law firm.
‘Employers need to wake up and leave themselves wide open to legal exposure if they don’t.’
There are more than 5 million women working in Britain, and approximately 80 percent of them will experience symptoms of menopause.