What do you wish your work would support your with in terms of menopause?

[WandaWomblesaurus73]

I'm writing some recommendations for our HR and trying to think out of the box.
What do you wish your workplace knew or could support with?

A gin bar and fewer fools to deal with. Seriously...for me nothing. What can they do? I have some backache which I manage with yoga, I get hot now and then...so run my wrists under the tap. There's nothing they CAN do!

Technically they could organise for Daniel Craig to bring buckets of ice and gin, but they won't. That's what I'm going to write down.

If private health insurance cover is offered to employees, ensure that menopause isn’t excluded from the policy. The vast bulk of policies exclude it currently.

@Porridgeislife

If private health insurance cover is offered to employees, ensure that menopause isn’t excluded from the policy. The vast bulk of policies exclude it currently.

I didn't know this. That's ridiculous.

It’s because menopause is deemed to be a natural part of ageing and isn’t covered.

Many illnesses, notably prostrate cancer, are also natural consequences of ageing but they’re usually covered.

@Porridgeislife

It’s because menopause is deemed to be a natural part of ageing and isn’t covered.

Many illnesses, notably prostrate cancer, are also natural consequences of ageing but they’re usually covered.

Surprise surprise. I wonder how they justify one and not the other. Takes a lot of balls to do that.

Female-centred language (not 'menopausal persons') that isn't ridiculously ageist or, at the other extreme, infantilising.

Just normal, professional language please.

CBT or talking support maybe. Flexible hours (my flushes were always first thing). Really the issue is understanding from colleagues, but feels difficult to ask for (stereotypes of 'emotional' women etc) never mind enforce.

Provide fans?
Allow short breaks if necessary?

I'm not sure what my employer could do, to be honest. Mandatory training for managers on the menopause and its effects would be useful I suppose mandatory because no bugger would attend if it wasn't

@SpindleyCrow

Female-centred language (not 'menopausal persons') that isn't ridiculously ageist or, at the other extreme, infantilising.

Just normal, professional language please.

Dealing with this hurdle now. Really fury making.

Women have fought for equality for decades, to have provision made for menopausal women would seem a step backwards.

Most workplaces have adequate provision for breaks, sick leave if needed and occupational health support if required.

To have specific menopause concessions would seem totally unnecessary imo.

@WandaWomblesaurus73 What exactly are you producing for the workplace? Is this formal guidance as a report?

Just asking as it might be worth contacting certain people who are working on this already, like Dr Heather Currie (consultant gynae awarded the MBE for her work on it) and maybe Diane Danzebrink who organised a petition for Parliament.

You might also want to talk to the British Menopause Society who may have views on it or be preparing something similar.

Have you 'had a google' as this is a topic that has come up quite recently over the last year.

@Porridgeislife

If private health insurance cover is offered to employees, ensure that menopause isn’t excluded from the policy. The vast bulk of policies exclude it currently.

But that's not down to the employer, it's something that the insurance company decides. It's because menopause is classed as a 'chronic & ongoing condition' rather than an acute condition. Insurers do not cover any long-term conditions.

They will cover certain aspects of female reproductive health - eg diagnosis of what's causing heavy periods- which may be menopausal symptoms - but once meno is the diagnosis they will not continue cover long term.

But employers are customers: if enough say they want it covered, the market will change. There’s insurance that covers fertility and pregnancy that some employers opt into, despite the fact that off the shelf policies cover neither.

I’ve had various chronic gynae conditions diagnosed and treated to the point of stabilisation on private health care which is the extent of treatment for most chronic illnesses. Given your example of heavy periods, at the moment no treatment would be given if the cause is deemed to be menopause.

@Porridgeislife It doesn't work like that though. Employers can't demand cover when it's not in the insurers interests.

There are many health conditions that are not covered and need long term monitoring and treatment. eg rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis etc etc. where ongoing scans, change of drugs and so on are needed for decades.

You say you were treated until stabilisation- yes, of course.

Cover does include a diagnosis and a treatment ( eg a Mirena, ablation or hysterectomy for heavy periods) but it won't cover long term monitoring of a condition that is going to last for life and where appts are needed regularly.

Again it depends on your employer and what they demand in their cover.

Mine does actually cover monitoring of chronic conditions to a cost of £4,000 a year. So it’s not right to say that there is no insurance for ongoing chronic conditions, there is if your employer is willing to pay for it.

I’m in peri and I’d just like work to stop going on about it. It’s not something they can do anything about, I find all the talk about it a bit demeaning and it seems to undermine the fact that a lot of women my age are doing absolutely fine and haven’t turned into jellies.

But second choice, Daniel Craig with an ice bucket would be fine.

I would have just liked good (peri -)menopause signposting to medical info not quasi well-being blah blah and talking cafes etc. More like get yourself on this app (balance) and get yourself to GP for HRT.

@Sportsnight

I’m in peri and I’d just like work to stop going on about it. It’s not something they can do anything about, I find all the talk about it a bit demeaning and it seems to undermine the fact that a lot of women my age are doing absolutely fine and haven’t turned into jellies.

But second choice, Daniel Craig with an ice bucket would be fine.

Absolutely this. Menopausal women don't need concessions and protocols. How very disemprowering.

They need to take responsibility for their own health and well being, ensure they have breaks, ensure they eat well and stay hydrated. This constant 'women of a certain age need hand holds' is just so ridiculous.

@Porridgeislife

If private health insurance cover is offered to employees, ensure that menopause isn’t excluded from the policy. The vast bulk of policies exclude it currently.

This!!!! It is absolutely ridiculous and, frankly, companies can offer all they want with 'advice', 'support' etc etc but it is all a waste of time when this is carved out of the health policy. That or they pay for private consultation and HRT.

Disempowering*

One thing, and one thing only (from my point of view):

Make provision for them to choose where to sit; based on where the windows, radiators and air conditioning units are.

That's it.

@SpindleyCrow

Female-centred language (not 'menopausal persons') that isn't ridiculously ageist or, at the other extreme, infantilising.

Just normal, professional language please.

This too - ensure all written material refers to she/her and women not gender-neutral language.

We have a few policies, including flexibility around working times, working environment and clothing.
We also have awareness raising/open discussion of the issues and support networks and groups.

@Porridgeislife

Again it depends on your employer and what they demand in their cover.

Mine does actually cover monitoring of chronic conditions to a cost of £4,000 a year. So it’s not right to say that there is no insurance for ongoing chronic conditions, there is if your employer is willing to pay for it.

which insurer are you with?