The day was designated by the International Menopause Society (IMS) to raise awareness of the menopause and to support options to improve health and well-being for women.
What is the menopause?
“The period in a woman’s life (typically between the ages of 45 and 50), when menstruation ceases.”
What impact does this have on women?
A common misconception is that it causes hot flushes, but it is so much more than that. Progesterone lowers, which can impact sleep and mood and estrogen (hormones) can fluctuate, causing things like brain fog. Everyone is different though, there are around 34 possible symptoms of the menopause women can experience, physical and mental. Just some of these symptoms are:
- Weight gain
- Night sweats
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Such symptoms can cause huge problems for women in the workplace, with 1 in 10 women giving up their careers due to not being able to cope with the symptoms. This means businesses are losing talent and women can end up taking a huge hit on their pension and lifestyle – it shouldn’t be this way.
So, what can you do in the workplace, to help women going through the menopause?
- Assess the workplace environment – are there adequate fans/aircon? Is there a private breakout space they can use? Do you have shower/washroom facilities? Is your dress code suitable? Can you introduce a risk assessment to identify measures to be implemented to support women going the menopause?
- Review your absence management procedure – can you record menopause-related absence separately and discount it for absence management purposes?
- Implement a menopause policy.
- Review your working hours – can you offer flexibility in start times if someone is experiencing insomnia and had a terrible night’s sleep, could they start a bit later?
- Normalise it – talk about it, encourage open discussions, let people share their stories if they want to – break the taboo! (If the individual agrees), can you make the team aware of what they’re going through and what symptoms they’re experiencing so they can be mindful?
We can help you with any of the above. Contact us for a discussion and let’s break the taboo together!
? hello@peachlaw.co.uk
? Connect with us on LinkedIn – Peach Law (HR & Employment Law Specialists)
? 0161 478 3800
