Menopause in the workplace - is a policy not enough??

This month is menopause awareness month, and this is another issue that is getting a lot of coverage at the moment as the number of tribunal claims being brought by women who have been discriminated against or been unfairly treated by their employer, and the menopause symptoms they are experiencing is at the heart of it.

There were 10 such Tribunals in the first six months of 2021 compared to 5 in the whole of 2018 and from research carried out by the Menopause Experts and their CEO Dee Murray, we can assume that this is the tip of the iceberg.

What makes it even more interesting right now is that the law cannot decide if this is sex discrimination (only women can be affected by menopausal symptoms in this way) or is it indeed disability, as in severe cases it can significantly impact a woman’s ability to go about her daily life without challenge.

From Davina MCall bringing the issue to our television screens this year, and even Sadiq Khan promising a “World leading menopause policy” during his mayoral elections, we know that awareness around this issue is increasing daily and we are starting to learn more and more about the impact menopause can have for women in the workplace.

?Some women will be lucky and sail through this life changing chapter without any issues, whilst others will experience debilitating symptoms, be at greater risk of depression, anxiety and even thoughts of suicide, and experience such a cognitive effect that they think they are losing their mind.

Until recently it is not a subject that was talked about, not even amongst women themselves, and certainly not in the workplace, but given that the menopause could affect over half the population during their lives, and that women over the age of 50 are now the fastest growing demographic in the workplace, it is not a subject we can continue to brush under the carpet or make crass jokes about.

I even had one Trade Union MALE suggest to me that menopause is the women’s equivalent of a bad back – ie how do you know if it is true or I am “making it up” …. and so a subject that does need addressing, especially as if the symptoms are not recognised and treated and women not supported, not only can organisations lose good employees but lives can also be lost.

To learn more, and understand how as an employer you can better support your employees, avoid the increasing tribunals citing menopause as the issue AND retain talent and expertise, the Really Useful Conversations podcast this week is talking all about it. You can listen HERE and find out more about how I can help you by offering no nonsense, practical, down to earth training for women, men, employers, employees, managers, leaders and HR professionals in a way that will help make that difference/