'Menopause awareness' in the workplace?

[WinterDeWinter]

Hello - I'd really like to see what people thought of this. I'm in a medium-sized third sector organisation and I've been asked to oversee a project to increase 'menopause support and awareness' beginning with a consultation. I'm feeling a bit stumped/resistant and I'm not quite sure why.

If I'm honest I'm not completely convinced that this will be more than a box-ticking / PR exercise, and I'm really unwilling to be the box ticker!

I also worry that it could backfire and that while the (higher than usual number of) 40s/50s women in the organisation would appreciate meaningful accommodations, not all will appreciate the spotlight being on them and some might even find it actively intrusive and unpleasant.

For example, we also employ a higher than average number of young-ish men - would the 'awareness training' be compulsory for all the young men and if so how would it feel to be a menopausal woman in the room?!

I am probably overthinking but I thought I would ask if anyone had experience of anything menopause-related in the workplace and if so, what has worked/not worked? If not, what measures would you want me to make sure went out for consultation if I was your colleague? How would you want this to be approached? It feels fraught with danger!

I feel the same as @LadybirdsAreNeverHappy I’m 54 and the only menopausal woman at my work (construction). It’s a huge step backwards for older women in the workforce. I don’t discuss it with my line manager (or anyone at work). I go to the doctors and get HRT and deal with it. It’s not a work ‘issue’. Take a fan if you get hot flushes. Everyone knows that women go through it. What awareness needs to be raised?

Ps - I’m not prudish about it. I can take to my friends/DH/DC for hours about it. I just don’t think it’s a work issue b

I disagree that it’s not a work issue. For some women it’s not a work issue and they’re lucky. For many others it impacts on their work massively. A lot of women take a step back from their work during menopause and spend the rest of their career in a much more junior role because their work did not accommodate their needs during the few years their menopause affected them, and this is a huge loss not just to them but to the economy.

The emphasis should be that whilst women have just as much to offer as ever, some of them - by no means all - will need particular support, accommodations and understanding at certain points during this period.

I have a friend who’s suffered massively and has had to take a fair bit of time off work and work very flexibly. Luckily her employer is very understanding and her manager has awareness of menopause and knows she’s still a valuable employee, so she’s now beginning to come out of this still in a senior role where she can continue to contribute.

Totally agree with this

"What awareness needs to be raised?"

Are you serious? The lack of knowledge about it, is shocking. It affects it has had on women in the workplace is well known. It needs to be talked about it. Training is needed.

(And no I haven't suffered workwise, but plenty have). Awareness day is in October.

1 in 4
will consider leaving their job due to menopause symptoms.

Agree that a key focus is for line managers. Understanding through decent training - rather than leaving them to muddle through based on personal experience and misconceptions - things like mental health, pregnancy, racism, menopause, varying disabilities etc. - all this will help equip them as and when something comes up, and stop them saying or thinking “huh, I / my sister didn’t have all that morning sickness, she’s probably making it up about debilitating nausea” or “haha hot flushes, comedy old woman issue” etc etc.

Then having some material to share around teams, put on posters etc, optional sessions if wanted as part of a woman’s group ?? But low key, managed in the same way you’d manage any of the other training above. We’ve had some people happy to talk to their teams about their own menopause, others not involved at all - very much optional but available. As with all these things, everyone does not know the basics - this might be the first time some people hear any info on the topic.

I wouldn't suggest using this survey. But look, 1 in 3 can't talk to their manager about it?

Menopause Survey
1 in 3 people who are going through menopause say they
wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about it with their line manager.
Our survey template will help you find out what your people want and need in terms of menopause support.
We’ve put together a short questionnaire for you to use. The survey should take less than 5 minutes.
What is your age?
Under 40 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 – 60 Over 60
Do you think you have reached menopause yet?
Yes
No
Not sure
How well do you understand the changes to your body that occur around the time of menopause?
Scale 1 - 10
Have you experienced symptoms that you think are due to the menopause?
Yes, in the past but not now Yes, ongoing now
No
Not sure
5 How bothersome are these symptoms when you are at work?
1
2
3
4
Scale 1 - 10

6 Have you discussed your menopause symptoms with a line manager or equivalent?
I have discussed them
I haven’t but I plan to
I haven’t needed to
I’d like to but I don’t feel comfortable discussing them
Do you feel your menopause symptoms affect your ability to do your day-to-day work?
No symptoms
Not at all
They cause slight difficulties
They cause moderate difficulties They cause major problems
In the past year, how much time have you taken off work because of menopause? (either using sickness or annual leave)
None
1 - 5 days
5 - 12 days
More than 12 days
Is there anything at work that would make it easier to manage your symptoms?
Yes
No
Not needed

• Include space for open text comments 10 If you are a manager, have you been offered specific education or training for managers around menopause? Yes No Not sure I’m not a manager 7 8 9

11 How easy have you found it to source support and advice about menopause that is personal to you?
Scale 1 - 10
12 Would you be interested in information about menopause being provided to you through your workplace?
No, not interested Yes, interested Not sure
What would be the best way to provide menopause support and information
(Tick those you think would be useful to you.)
Intranet resources
Leaflets and posters
Information sessions
Access to a menopause expert to ask personal questions Access to a resource library of up-to-date, impartial support

3 other links

We have menopause awareness events from time to time at work - what goes down well is asking women to share their own experiences - go out for volunteers. This opens up an authentic discussion. Encourage a 'no such thing as a silly question' environment. Sell it to men as something that will help them support not only their female colleagues but also their female family and friends.

Good luck!

Oh yes, and another thing. Give the menopausal woman the controls to the aircon unit, and let them move desks to wherever they feel most comfortable. Nobody else wants a freezing draught down their neck when the person who is having a hot flush sits six desks away and can't feel the cold air at all

it’s not always like this though. There are two of us early 50’s in our office. The other gets the typical hot flushes, and always has the air con on. I hate air con, I’m a naturally cold person, with raynauds, and it dries my sinuses.

so it’s all well and good having “awareness”, but when you have one team member sweating her arse off, and the other sat in a coat (yes I have literally had to sit in my coat), how do you deal with that?

since our workplace did “menopause awareness” I’ve also noticed a some women using it almost as a threat. “Don’t mess with a woman my age” kind of thing, to get them what they want.

This is a thing where I work.

There's online learning (optional) which anyone can do. Regular optional online lunch & learn sessions on different aspects - e.g. find out about HRT, how to talk to your doctor, nutrition, exercise, sleep etc. A medical helpline for advice. We've had senior leaders on panel sessions talking about their experience & taking questions. All of which are advertised but attendance is entirely optional. You can order a desktop fan on expenses, or request a lighter-weight uniform (not NHS).

I honestly can't imagine why anyone has a problem with that. Some of the men in my team joked about them not needing to know about it, I just pointed out that some of the people they know are women so actually it might be helpful for them to know about it. One of the women in my team was really struggling with her symptoms and I was able to signpost her to various sources of help and support, which I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. What's wrong with that?!

For gods sake. Why on earth do we need awareness training. Where does this stop, we can't have training on everything. We can't expect to be treated equally but oh hang on a minute - please treat me differently when I'm having a hot flush !!! Christa sake just get on with it. I'm a professional working woman on a cocktail of HRT etc. I'm sick of all this harping on about the menopause, it's just a stage suck it up and get on with it.

Thank god I work for myself from home and never have to put up with this crap. My menopause my business.

I'll put my opinion(s) into the pot:
I had a hysterectomy (see below) so the erratic period thing wasn't a problem for me, but what was a problem was that many people (I count myself among them) aren't aware that this is a time when prolapses can rear their ugly heads. I had multiple ones. I had two separate surgeries and got to the point where I couldn't be arsed with being bashful about it any more, so when asked I was very straightforward about it.
In the other hand, I had a colleague who had terrible flooding due to her menopause and was horribly embarrassed because she would have to go home and change her clothes.
I do (kind of) get the embarrassment factor as my generation were not really brought up to speak about these kinds of issues in front of men.
BUT, we're still pushing for breastfeeding to be more widely and socially acceptable to a degree - and it should be. It's time the issue of menopause was brought into the public eye more.
Don't get me started on urinary incontinence though, as the idea that older women should accept wetting themselves as a matter of course is beyond my understanding. (I hope that doesn't derail the thread.)

My work have created a good policy on it and did an awareness presentation which was informative and not embarrassing or patronizing etc.
We also had a meeting for menopausal women to discuss their issues and it was actually really good. I have found (often to my surprise) that friends and family haven’t welcomed any discussion of menopause problems and it was really good to share concerns with other women going through the same thing. I was really pleased to take part (and there was cake 😊 )

Agree
I hate how personal stuff has crept into the workplace. It’s just another excuse to see women as lesser.

Thanks for that @Oblomov22 that survey is very helpful.

I definitely agree with those who think it should be talked about and normalised - I thnk I was just struggling with how that might happen! I think compulsory online training for managers is a no-brainer, so women employees can rely on their being a base level of knowledge and understanding. I think the ambassador idea is interesting but perhaps that's when it gets into marmite territory, with some thinking that it's a great idea and others thinking it would be excruciating! .

I just found out that the government's own report recommends makings menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act!

It worries me that menopause awareness will result in discrimination against women of a certain age. Just when they have outgrown being discriminated against for being of child bearing age...

I agree, although I accept my opinion is not a popular one. I just feel we fought so hard for equality in the workplace (still not there even now) and now it's like we're saying that actually we're not up to the job after all.

(I'm post menopausal for what it's worth)

*Charlotte at
"*I agree, although I accept my opinion is not a popular one. I just feel we fought so hard for equality in the workplace (still not there even now) and now it's like we're saying that actually we're not up to the job after all.

(I'm post menopausal for what it's worth)"
Completely agree, we can't expect to be equal but only on our terms. The constant conversation about menopause is not helpful or necessary. My femininity should not and does not need to be a factor in my working life. Deal with it personally and Privately

I think awareness training is good. I'm finding menopause hideous. As are some of my colleagues.

For those of us who have had a bad time symptoms-wise, what would be useful and achievable accommodations? Anything beyond 'understand that I might be struggling'? I think I would have liked to be able to take flexible breaks to cool down/clear my head. Also flexible later starts - I sleep incredibly badly and sometimes another hour in bed would make a huge difference.

But a lot of women genuinely cannot carry on their normal work without some provision and support. These women have traditionally just left the workforce, to massive detriment to themselves, because getting through those few years has been too hard.

What’s your solution for them? They should just shut up and quit their jobs because other women are able to continue as normal?

You could make the same argument about maternity leave: don’t make a fuss about it, get back to work as soon as possible after you’ve had your baby because if we talk about the ways in which women can be disadvantaged then we’re undermining inequality. But we don’t make that argument because it’s stupid - many women need time off so that they can continue in their work afterwards. Some women don’t have children, other women want to come very soon after, but if it’s not policy to support women who want to take a few months off then you lose women from the workforce and both they and the economy miss out. It’s the same with the menopause. Obviously don’t talk about the menopause if you don’t want to, but if work environments don’t understand the issues and have policies to support women then some women will be pushed out and that’s not ok.

It's been a work issue at my work as one woman got taken off nights because she was having trouble sleeping... which is very understanding and great except that we're a small team of 8 and 6 of us are women between 45 and 55! In fact the woman who was taken off nights is the youngest and it was too some degree the straw that broke the camel's back for two of us, who've been working nights despite the problems sleeping (which in my case I've mostly solved with HRT now, but my colleague hasn't as she has too many risk factors to be happy to start hrt).

Its somewhat the squeeky wheel getting all the oil but we can't all squeek or the wheels will all fall off and there'll be a crisis (healthcare setting).

I've actually transferred to another department because I can't take the slack for her.