- Mariella Frostrup has been appointed as
the new Women's Employment Ambassador to
champion women's health in the workplace
- Appointment comes as businesses encouraged to
publish voluntary action plans to better
support employees experiencing menopause symptoms
- Together these measures will work to
address the near record number of women who are
economically inactive due to long-term sickness
Leading women's health campaigner and broadcaster
Mariella Frostrup has been appointed as the
Government's Women's Employment Ambassador, a newly
created role to support working women across the
country.
The introduction of the ambassador role comes as the Government
continues its efforts to support women experiencing symptoms of
the menopause, with businesses being encouraged
to publish action plans to prevent the £1.7
billion lost each year due to sick days, lost productivity and
women leaving the workforce because of the menopause.
The new Women's Employment Ambassador role expands the remit of
the Menopause Employment Ambassador, which
Mariella Frostrup successfully took on over
the past year.
In this role she oversaw the launch of the Menopause Advisory
Group and discussions withhundreds of employers to
improve workplace support for women experiencing the
menopause.
In this brand new, expanded role, Mariella will work closely with
employers across the country to raise awareness of key health
issues affecting women in work and champion the economic
contributions of women.
Experts from across sectors will be brought together to gather
evidence, identify barriers and opportunities, and
provide informed recommendations on supporting women's health in
work.
Many health conditions affect women long before they reach
menopause, including endometriosis and fibroids, making
it vital that support is available throughout their working lives
to avoid women dropping out of the workforce for good.
This comes as part of the government's drive to reverse the
rise in the number of women who are economically inactive due to
long-term sickness, which has hit a near-record high of 1.48
million.
Also, large businesses with 250 or
more employees are being encouraged
to produce and publish
voluntary action plans setting out
how they will support employees experiencing
menopause symptoms in the workplace.
Companies will be asked to commit to at least one
action to support employees experiencing menopause, such as
setting up support groups, tailored workplace adjustments
including alternative uniforms and more.
Minister for Employment, Dame :
"Too many women still face barriers that prevent them from
reaching their full potential in the workplace.
“This new ambassador role sends a clear signal that we are
serious about changing that, and Mariella Frostrup is
the ideal person to take this on
“By championing the brilliant contributions women make — as
entrepreneurs, workers, and leaders — we can unlock economic
growth that benefits everyone.”
Women's Employment Ambassador,
Mariella Frostrup:
"Menopause support in the workplace has come a long way, and that
progress is something to be proud of, but it cannot be where our
ambition stops.
“Women's health affects their working lives long before
menopause, and for too long many have been navigating these
challenges without the right support around them.
“Every woman deserves to know, at every stage of her career, that
her health will not be a barrier to her success. I am delighted
to take on this role and look forward to working with employers
across the country support their imperative female workforce
and retain them.”
The action plans are just one part of
the Employment Rights Act, which will boost employment
and improve job security for over 18 million workers and
will benefit women balancing health,
care responsibilities and careers.
Tracy Black, CBI Chief Commercial Officer, said:
“Businesses are committed to taking action to help women both
stay and succeed in the workplace.
“Awareness of the impact of menopausal symptoms at work is
rising, leading to businesses taking a more pro-active approach
to providing support. This is part of a wider trend of firms
sharpening their focus on health and wellbeing.”
The Women's Health
Ambassador, alongside the government's
renewal of the Women's Health Strategy are
working to make faster, more decisive progress on the
health outcomes that matter most to women and girls across the
country.
These measures, along with the new Ambassador
role, will ensure employers are
better equipped to support women and women know
how to access help throughout their career. Supporting women
into work and throughout their career is
a vital part of the Government's commitment
to Get Britain Working.
Additional Information
- From Spring 2026, employers with 250 or more employees will
have the option to produce and publish a voluntary
action plan alongside their gender pay gap. More information can
be found here.
