How organisations can help
Millions of us will go through the menopause every year, which can cause us to experience low mood, anxiety, brain fog, and difficulty sleeping, among other things. Dealing with these symptoms can often have a negative impact on our everyday lives, particularly our experiences in the workplace. The problem is – we’re not talking about it. Despite over half the working population experiencing the menopause, and most people knowing someone who will, it is still stigmatised.
Our Mental Health at Work team spoke to Julie Dennis, a menopause at work specialist, about this natural part of life and how organisations can help.
Start talking Provide platforms for your staff to share their experiences to help normalise talking about menopause. These don’t just have to be from those experiencing the menopause, but others too, such as a partner or carer, or a younger person. Offering different perspectives on the menopause can widen the narrative and ensure your employee population is being represented.
Make adjustments Think about role-specific reasonable adjustments, and ask teams what they think would be helpful. Remember not to solely focus on physical factors, such as changing the office temperature, but also about what you can do culturally to make your workplace more inclusive.
Keep the dialogue ongoing The menopause isn’t widely spoken about in the workplace. “It’s an ever- evolving conversation” says Julie. She advises not to put menopause in a box, but to integrate it with what you’re already doing around mental health. It’s important to keep informed as legislation, guidance and advice evolve on this topic.
Find out more and download some helpful toolkits on the Mental Health at Work website.
Visit the web pages
