skip to main content

Women and Equalities Select Committee Menopause Inquiry

The Women and Equalities Select Committee have launched an inquiry into the extent and impact of menopause discrimination in the workplace.

Published: 07 September 2021 | 7:52 PM Updated: 25 March 2022 | 4:38 PM
Photograph of a paperchain of people set out on a wooden table, with a bright yellow light shining on them. Photo credit: Shutterstock
A 2019 survey found that three in five menopausal women were negatively affected at work. Photo credit: Shutterstock

A 2019 survey conducted by BUPA and the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that three in five menopausal women – usually aged between 45 and 55 – were negatively affected at work, and that almost 900,000 women in the U.K. left their jobs over an undefined period of time because of menopausal symptoms.

We know that symptoms of menopause can be an issue for some of our members, as MU Executive Committee Member Millicent Stephenson explained in her blog which we published for World Menopause Day 2020.

More needs to be done to support menopausal women in the workplace and prevent menopause discrimination. You can share your views with the committee until Friday 17 September 2021 through the Parliament website.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

The UK and EU flags, waved together in front of Big Ben in London.

MU Backs Petition Urging UK to Rejoin Creative Europe Programme

The EU/UK Culture Forum has launched a petition calling on the UK Government to rejoin Creative Europe from 2027. The programme supports funding and cultural collaboration across Europe, and the MU is encouraging members to sign and show their support.

Published: 26 February 2026

Read more about MU Backs Petition Urging UK to Rejoin Creative Europe Programme
A crowd with their hands raised at a music festival.

MU to Attend FOCUS Wales 2026 in Wrexham

Taking place from 7-9 May, FOCUS Wales is an international showcase spotlighting over 250 artists and featuring industry sessions, arts events, film screenings and more. The MU will be hosting a series of coffee morning drop-in sessions, as well as an afternoon mixer event.

Published: 24 February 2026

Read more about MU to Attend FOCUS Wales 2026 in Wrexham
Empty music classroom with seats and sheet stands.

Changes to Enhanced AccessNI Disclosure Checks

From 17 February 2026, legislative changes in Northern Ireland allow self-employed musicians working with children and vulnerable adults to apply for an Enhanced AccessNI disclosure check through a registered Umbrella Body.

Published: 23 February 2026

Read more about Changes to Enhanced AccessNI Disclosure Checks