Menopause is a workplace issue

We know that talking about the menopause at work isn’t always easy. But the more conversations we have about the impact that menopause and perimenopause can have on work, the better life is for everyone.

The menopause remains a taboo subject in many workplaces and with the majority of people who are experiencing menopause-related health problems being reluctant to disclose this to their managers, it is important for us all to increase our understanding of the menopause and perimenopause, and to better understand the impact it can have on our working lives.

6 out of every 10 people experiencing menopausal symptoms say it has a negative impact on their work. With the right support, no-one needs to press pause, struggle through or consider leaving their careers during this natural transition.

Looking after our people and supporting better health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We recognise that the menopause is a workplace issue and so we have developed a ‘ Supporting our people through the menopause’ policy to help encourage us to talk more about the menopause and perimenopause, to increase our knowledge and confidence in this area, and to equip our people managers with the tools they need to support a team member with menopausal symptoms.

Over the next few months we will be offering Lunch and Learn and briefing sessions providing more information about the perimenopause and menopause and how to make use of the  Supporting our people through the menopause policy and the accompanying  manager’s guide.

International Women’s Day

This year the theme for International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity.

The words equality and equity are often used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference between the two. Equality is about providing everyone with the same resources and opportunities. This can often create a one size fits all approach and continue inequalities for some groups of people. A focus on equity accounts for our individual differences and experiences. Equity seeks to level the playing field by creating and adapting services and policies according to our differences, resulting in better outcomes for us all.

If you want to find out more about equality and equity and why it’s important in the workplace, this short video is a great start https://youtu.be/LHN1jW6KIeI