Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the 12 recommendations in the ‘Endometriosis (not) in the workplace’ report published by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis.

The report highlights that for many women, endometriosis can have a significant impact on their lives. By creating more supportive and informed workplaces, we can help women with endometriosis or other health conditions remain in work, progress in their careers and reach their full potential.

Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent Keep Britain Working Review highlighted the scale of economic inactivity due to ill health and disability, and the important role employers can play in helping people stay in work. During the Vanguard phase, we have worked with employers, providers, unions and people with health conditions to develop and refine approaches that help people thrive in work, including promoting early conversations about health needs and supporting reasonable workplace adjustments for women’s health conditions.

As we develop the Workplace Health System, we are considering how health and work interact across different stages of life, including the impact of endometriosis and other long-term fluctuating menstrual health conditions on people’s ability to remain and thrive in work. We welcome the involvement of Endometriosis UK in the Vanguard, which provides valuable insight into the experiences of people living with these conditions and helps inform our approach.

In Spring, the government launched voluntary action plans for large employers to improve menopause support and address their gender pay gaps. The guidance highlights where actions to improve menopause support may also benefit employees experiencing other health conditions related to menstrual health, including endometriosis.

Through the Plan to Make Work Pay, we are strengthening support for people managing health conditions alongside their work by requiring employers to accept flexible working requests where it is reasonable for them to do so. Many employers already offer compassionate or flexible working arrangements, and we continue to encourage businesses to adopt supportive practices that help their employees balance work and personal responsibilities.

The Renewed Women's Health Strategy, published in April, identifies endometriosis as a priority condition, and states our commitment to improve the treatment and ongoing care for every woman affected.

On 1 April 2026, Mariella Frostrup was appointed as the government’s Women’s Employment Ambassador, where she takes a holistic approach to supporting women in the workplace, championing an environment that supports women at every stage of their lives. The Ambassador attended the launch of the Endometriosis (Not) in the Workplace report, and in her remarks, she emphasised that supporting women's health in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but is also vital for retaining talent, reducing inequalities, and strengthening the economy.