Menopause Support at Work | Equality For Women
Menopause in the workplace is a challenge that needs to be addressed
We feel strongly about #generationequality in the workplace.
For many, perimenopause symptoms begin around the age of 45. The average age of menopause is statistically 51, and for women in ethic minority groups menopause may occur at least two years earlier. But a significant number of women enter menopause even earlier due to surgery or illness and these women often fall under the radar.
There are 4 million women in the UK aged 45-55 who will all enter menopause. Eighty percent of these women will experience symptoms in some capacity and 25% will leave work due to the impact of their debilitating symptoms.
This generation of women deserves to be supported. Not all women choose to or are able to have a child, but it’s guaranteed they’ll all experience menopause.
Breaking down the barriers to discussing menopause in the workplace
Menopause is not an illness, or a disability, but a natural stage in a woman’s life. When women are informed about the potential impact of menopause on their lives and are given the know-how to manage it, they will be able to continue working and thriving in the workplace for as long as they need.
As the pension age rises, so does the necessity to continue employment!
It’s important that women experiencing menopause symptoms that impact their ability to perform well at work are able to access the support they need in their working environment.
In March 2021 Vodafone published their own research into menopause in the workplace carried out by Opinium. In a survey of 5,012 people across five countries who had experienced menopause while at work, they found:
Nearly two-thirds of women (62%) who experienced menopause symptoms said that this impacted them at work, rising to four in five (79%) for 18-44-year-olds.
A third (33%) of those who had symptoms said they hid this at work, and 50% felt there is stigma around talking about the menopause.
43% of women in the UK who experienced menopause symptoms said they have felt too embarrassed to ask for support in the workplace, rising to 63% of women aged 18-44 in the UK.
Two-thirds (64%) of women in the UK agree there should be more workplace support for women going through menopause.
It’s fantastic to see global organisations such as Vodafone are committed to supporting employees through menopause, however, there are too many other organisations that have much more to do, to help their colleagues feel confident about seeking support and knowing where to find it in their workplace.
Menopause Workplace Support
Such a significant number of women feel there isn’t enough support in the workplace as they go through menopause, why is that?
The topic of menopause is becoming more mainstream, with journalists and celebrities openly joining the conversation, yet this latest research shows menopause still has a stigma attached to it, embarrassment is high, preventing women discussing menopause or seeking support, especially in the younger cohort.
So what are some of the barriers that prevent women from seeking menopause support in the workplace?
Embarrassment
Lack of awareness around menopause
Relationship with line manager
Fear that symptoms won’t be taken seriously
Symptoms may become widely known at work
May be thought less capable
Job security and/or chances of promotion could be affected
Menopause doesn’t last forever, symptoms change and every woman’s experience is unique.
This generation of women deserves to be supported through menopause and management within organisations needs to be confident in offering the most appropriate individualised support to enable them to retain their female employees beyond menopause.
Looking after female staff
Here are just some of the reasons why:
Improves employees’ wellbeing
Creates an age and gender-inclusive workplace
Compliant with employment law - Equality Act 2010 and Health and Safety at work
Removes barriers to progression for women and closes the gender pay gap
Brings reputational benefit to recruitment & retention
We’re committed to offering organisations menopause support, from senior management levels down. We work with organisations helping them to understand the implications, offering toolkits to support colleagues and raising awareness for all employees confidently.
Our workshops help to start those vital conversations, create a listening culture and empower people to find support whether for themselves, their partner or supporting a colleague.
Our hour-long ‘Let’s Talk Menopause’ awareness sessions are an hour well spent for generation equality!
Please contact us at business@positivepause.co.uk if you’d like to learn more about how we can help your organisation.
To learn more about this subject, read our Complete Guide to Menopause in the Workplace.