How can you support in the workplace?
There are roughly 4.4 million women over 50 in the workplace currently and this age group is the fastest growing demographic. The menopause typically affects women betwen the ages of 45-55 and 80% of these women are in work. However, perimenopause can start around 10 years earlier. For many years the menopause was something to feel ashamed of and in addition, with scant information available, women have suffered in silence. In recent years the narrative around menopause has changed, with high profile celebrities hitting the headlines talking about their experiences, symptoms, HRT and putting pressure on the Government and businesses to do more.
Women can experience issues which may have a substantial and long term effect on mental and physical health, professionally this is having an impact on their careers with 10% resigning and 14% electing to go part time. Businesses are losing talented women at the peak of their careers.
Whilst, the Government has stopped short of making the menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, it believes that sex, disability and age, which are protected, will provide the basis of which an employee could claim discrimination based on suffering with menopausal symptoms. And, in 2023 the UK Government reduced the cost of HRT prescriptions so that there is only one fee per year, which has helped make HRT more affordable for those who need it. For many HRT is vital in helping managing the symptoms of the menopause. 75% of women will experience symptons to varying degrees, with 1 of 4 of those with debilitating symptoms.
So what can you do? A lot of women will still feel uncomfortable to discuss their symptoms and businesses need to normalise these discussions in the workplace. Managers should be confident to have discussions without judgement, avoid sterotypes and banter. Take the time to listen, for many women the menopause can be a time of anxiety and fear. There is no 'test' available to definitively diagnose the menopause, no set age as to when it will start and the symptoms are varied and different for everyone. There are over 30 recognised symptoms to date.
With 45% of women sayng that the menopause is negatively affecting their worklife, for managers having a conversation is the first step to understanding the issues and then working with your team member to explore what adjustments will help. Questions such as, what are the top 3 or 4 symptoms? What impact are they having on work life? What support can be put in place at work? Are the first steps to opening up discussions.
There are lots of resources available, including on the NHS, The Menopause Doctor, Menopause Matters and The British Menopause society. It is also good practice to have a menopause policy in place, this indicates to employees that as a business you are supportive and help is available.
With women saying they want a boss who is aware of the menopause and the symptoms, can you afford not to put support in place for the women in your business. For help with a menopause policy and manager training, contact me at bev@BDHR.co.uk.
