Women should NOT get menopause leave, MailOnline readers overwhelmingly say trends now
Seven out of 10 MailOnline readers agree with No10 rejecting trials of menopause leave.
Time-off for women affected by 'the change' was one recommendation put forward by the Women and Equalities Committee. But it was shot down by ministers.
Downing Street also dismissed calls to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, to shield women from any discrimination in the workplace.
In a letter explaining its reasoning, the Government said it was concerned that such a move could end up being discriminatory towards men.
70% of readers said women should not get specific menopause leave from work. Results are based on a poll with 2,803 votes as of 3pm
'Given the importance of this legislation it is important to ensure that the policy is considered in the round to avoid unintended consequences which may inadvertently create new forms of discrimination, for example, discrimination risks towards men suffering from long-term medical conditions,' the letter read.
In a report published in July, the committee said the UK's lack of action on menopause support has left the economy 'haemorrhaging talent', with women quitting their jobs due to a lack of support.
The MPs also said that the current law does not sufficiently protect women experiencing menopause and does not offer proper redress to those who suffer menopause-related discrimination.
Many women instead must demonstrate that their menopausal symptoms amount to a disability.
About eight in 10 women going through menopause suffer from problems like hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, low mood or anxiety, and forgetfulness.
Menopause occurs in response to hormonal changes when a woman stops having periods, and usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
The process — triggered by the ovaries producing less oestrogen — is a natural part of ageing but eight in 10 women will experience menopausal symptoms.
Women experiencing at least one problematic menopausal symptom are 43 per cent more likely to have left their jobs by the age of 55 than those experiencing no severe symptoms, while research by BUPA shows that 900,000 women experiencing the menopause have left work.
Women going through 'the change' can suffer anything from depression and anxiety to vaginal dryness and weight gain
With 4.5million women aged 50-64 currently in employment, the report emphasised the scale of the problem facing 'individuals, the economy and society'.
The original report said: 'Women of menopausal age are the fastest growing group in the workforce and are staying in work for longer than ever before.
But ministers outright rejected five of its recommendations in a response that was received three and a half months late.
MailOnline readers also rejected the prospect of specific menopause leave, with 70
