Government tells businesses to create new menopause and gender pay gap action plans

PoliticsBusiness & Finance
5 Mar 2026 • 2:11 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Bridget Phillipson stated that employers should detail their support for staff experiencing menopause and tackle unfair pay, noting that many women's health needs are still overlooked.
  • From next month, companies with 250 or more employees will have the option to publish voluntary action plans alongside their gender pay gap data.
  • These plans, currently voluntary, are intended to become mandatory from spring 2027, pending secondary legislation.
  • The initiative aims to empower women at work by addressing issues such as menopause support, pay transparency, and gender representation, with the government collaborating with businesses to promote best practice.
  • Key figures including Mary Macleod and Mariella Frostrup welcomed the measures, emphasising their potential to increase women's workforce participation, productivity, and economic growth.

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