Let's talk menopause

Menopause – the taboo word people like to avoid. Often dubbed as ‘something women go through’, it is still widely misunderstood and remains a no-go topic for almost everyone. But why is the menopause still a taboo topic when elsewhere society is making seismic strides discussing the importance of mental health, championing diversity and inclusion, women’s rights, and wellbeing in the workplace?

Recent analysis has shown that menopausal women are the fastest growing workforce demographic. With approximately 13% of the UK’s workforce being women over 50, there may be over 130,000 women in financial services alone dealing with the menopause transition at any one time. ?Yet, many women suffer in silence.?

Menopausal symptoms are more than a ‘hot flush’. Approximately 75% of women experience varying symptoms – including sleep disturbance and memory loss, with greater severity for some individuals – which can last several years. It is no wonder, some women choose to leave their jobs as a direct result of their symptoms coupled with lack of support at work.

Typically, the point at which some women attain a critical senior management role coincides with the menopause transition. But do we know how much of this impacts on female representation in these roles? No.?We do know, particularly within the financial services industry that many senior roles are held by men, and this gender imbalance is deep-seated. But the challenges of menopause transition affects talent across the board not just the employees in senior positions. From the cashier in a bank branch to the call centre worker, to the senior relationship manager or finance director – we need to retain and nurture the valuable skills these individuals possess. Identifying what stops women from progressing and staying in work is crucial – be it organisational, societal, or personal barriers. If women are choosing to leave the workplace due to a lack of support linked to the menopause, this is something which needs urgent address.

By delving deeper into the impacts the menopausal transition has on women in the workplace and therefore the female talent pipeline across the UK financial services industry, we can understand what the nature and scale of the problem is and identify tangible actions organisations can take to better address the barriers women are currently experiencing.

And that is what we are looking to achieve through our research together with the Fawcett Society, which will be released in the Autumn. The findings will enable us to develop solutions to better support colleagues experiencing the menopause at work, drive greater education across the workforce, and build the capability of managers and colleagues to make workplaces more considerate.?Everyone’s opinion matters here, not just women.

It is time to shine a spotlight on this taboo subject – acknowledge we can talk about it openly, accept this directly impacts someone’s wellbeing, their career progression – and offer the support and advice that will really make a difference. ?

Right now, people do not feel confident talking about menopause; be that line managers, significant others, most do not feel ‘equipped’ to even listen, making this an issue that really does affect all corners of society.

The research we are doing will enable the industry to better understand how the menopause transition affects their employees as well as create a more inclusive and supportive work environment. Colleagues and managers will feel more comfortable talking openly about the menopause transition and the challenges this brings, regardless of whether they are or will go through it themselves.

Although our research focuses on financial services, this is a relevant and important topic for all industries, in the UK and abroad.?One which can lead to positive gains for organisations, industries and economies if proactively addressed.

Ultimately, it is about creating a better, more informed dialogue.?Together we can change the narrative once and for all and it starts with adding one word to the conversation: menopause.