Journalist and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup has been appointed as the UK Government’s new menopause employment ambassador, the Department for Work and Pensions has announced.
The role is voluntary and will see the women’s health campaigner work closely with employers to:
- improve workplace support for menopausal women;
- raise symptom awareness; and
- champion the economic contributions of women.
A powerful and unique voice
The government describes Frostrup as a “powerful and unique voice” in the sector, given her decades of women’s rights and gender equality advocacy around the world. Frostrup says she is “honoured and delighted” by the appointment.
“The loss of one in 10 women from the workplace, often at the height of their professional careers, is damaging our economy and causing unnecessary suffering due to lack of information and support during this perfectly natural and manageable phase of life,” she said.
“I’m excited to get started and continue the important work done by my predecessor Helen Tomlinson to engage with businesses small and large and find solutions to what continues to be a gender specific inequity.”
Tomlinson became the first menopause employment champion last spring.
Majority impacted
A 2023 report on menopause in the workplace found that almost seven in 10 (67%) women are mostly negatively impacted by menopause symptoms at work, with over half sometimes unable to go into work at all due to symptoms.
Work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, said: “If we are going to get our country growing again, we have to make sure that everyone feels they can thrive at work. I know from personal experience how hard it can be for women going through menopause.”
Women’s health minister, Baroness Merron, added: “We know there is a long way to go in improving support for women experiencing menopause, particularly in the workplace, and this government is committed to providing the care and support for all women to thrive.”
Image credit: iStock
