May 2022
One in 10 women have quit their jobs and an estimated 14 million working days each year lost due to the menopause. Imagine how much that is costing your business.
Women over 50 are the fastest growing section of the UK workforce. Often ambitious and highly experienced, their contributions to the workforce can be significant – leading to some naming this demographic as an ‘entrepreneurial superpower’.
At the same time, the average age of menopause in the UK is 51. Nine out of 10 menopausal women say their symptoms impact their work – in particular brain fog, tiredness and lack of energy, and loss of confidence, according to new research from The Fawcett Society. One in four say they don’t feel supported by their manager while a third hide symptoms at work, fearing for their jobs.
One in 10 women have quit their jobs and an estimated 14 million working days each year lost due to the menopause. Imagine how much that is costing your business.
The Menopause Charity wants this to change.
As the menopause becomes more openly talked about, many companies are recognising the need to take action within the workplace. However, providing staff with fans and creating menopause champions doesn’t tackle the root cause. While the adoption of menopause policies, reasonable adjustments and internal awareness-raising activities are a step in the right direction, if companies truly want to make menopause symptoms history it is vital that more is done.
The menopause isn’t just a women’s issue
There are some 34 main symptoms of menopause, which range from hot flushes, heart palpitations and painful joints, through to brain fog, forgetfulness and loss of confidence. Some women also experience extreme mood swings, depression and anger. It isn’t just perimenopausal and menopausal people who are affected. It impacts partners, children, wider family and friends – and colleagues.
The Menopause Charity wants to ensure that companies are providing people in menopause, and everyone around them with the evidence-based information, advice and support they need; empowering more people to recognise the symptoms, find the help they need and support their loved ones.
We know that when people in menopause are signposted to treatment options and support, they can have positive experiences in the workplace.
Happier staff means improvements in employee wellbeing, productivity and performance, staff retention and morale. A win-win situation for the employee, their colleagues and the employer.
The Menopause Charity Workplace Quality Mark
Just as all organisations differ, people in menopause experience different symptoms so there is no ‘one size fits all’ fix to being a menopause-friendly company. The key to helping is education, conversation and leadership dedicated to tackling stigma that surrounds menopause.
To help organisations work towards improving the work environment and ensuring all staff are comfortable and informed when talking about women’s health, we have created The Menopause Charity Workplace Quality Mark. The Quality Mark is centred around three core pillars: to aid the conversation; to educate; and to lead the way in tackling stigma.
For a small annual fee, organisations will have access to the information and support they need to ensure employees better understand the perimenopause and menopause so they can truly overcome ignorance and destigmatise menopause in the workplace.
Displaying the charity Quality Mark demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to supporting people in menopause and educating everyone in how to create a culture that normalises menopause but not the suffering.
For more information register your interest at https://www.themenopausecharity.org//workplace-quality-mark/
