Talking about menopause at work with Right at Home Mid Cheshire

Traditionally, menopause has been seen as a private matter that shouldn’t be talked about, and certainly not at work. Despite this, menopausal people are, demographically, the fastest growing group of workers in the UK. It’s important these colleagues are made to feel supported and comfortable in the workplace.

Why should we talk about menopause in the workplace?

• Over 51% of the UK population will experience menopause at some point in their lives
• 81% of menopausal employees suggested that it had a moderate to extremely high impact on their performance at work
• Approximately 14 Million workdays are lost in the UK annually due to menopausal symptoms
• 25% of menopausal employees have considered leaving work because of symptoms
• 90% of menopausal employees say their workplace doesn’t offer any help
• The symptoms of menopause can cause people to lose their confidence, experience increases in anxiety levels, experience brain fog or have difficulty concentrating
• These people are likely to be highly experienced, but without the right support, at the right time, it can be difficult for them to reach their full potential
• Staying in work is good for those experiencing menopause. It contributes to feelings of better self-esteem, fulfilment, and identity. It also provides social contact and reduces feelings of isolation
• It is, therefore, essential that these employees are supported in the workplace and prevented from feeling like they have to leave

Talking about your menopause at work

• Although it may feel embarrassing for some to discuss menopause with employers it is important that they understand what you are going through and how this is affecting you
• Think about the symptoms you are experiencing and write these down beforehand so you can talk your employer through them
• Think of a few possible solutions that might help with your symptoms
• Then work your employer to explore suitable adjustments to accommodate your menopause and make it more manageable for you while at work
• Consider opening up to your colleagues about your menopause to establish a support network

Discussing menopause with your colleagues

• When discussing menopause with a colleague experiencing it, the most important thing you can do is listen and learn from them
• Provide a supportive environment for people experiencing menopause to talk about what they are experiencing
• Sometimes you might not be able to offer solutions but just offering a listening ear to what your colleague is going through will help them to process their experience and can take a load off their mind
• Make the effort to recognise the impact menopause can have and be patient - take extra time and care with your colleagues  and be understanding if something slips or is forgotten
• That being said, don’t treat them any differently than usual or make them feel singled out

Why is working in care great for supporting people with menopause?

• The clue is in the name - Care
• The care sector is full of people who are trained to go the extra mile to look after other people and their feelings
• Flexibility
• The nature of CareGiving is that shifts can be flexible and work around your schedule or lifestyle
• This means if you only feel up to working a few hours a day or only a couple of days a week that can be factored in
• Giving you more headspace and time to concentrate on your wellbeing
• Supportive environment
• In social care a huge number of your colleagues and managers will experience menopause
• They are more likely to be understanding of what you are going through and help accommodate this

How does Right at Home Mid Cheshire support employees experiencing menopause?

• Our CareGivers, office team and managers are the backbone of Right at Home Mid Cheshire
• They deserve the same support and understanding for menopause as they’d get for any other health issue
• We build relationships based on trust, compassion and respect to make it easier for employees to feel comfortable about raising a health issue like menopause and be confident they’ll be supported to remain a valued member of the team
• Some of the things we’ve introduced to support our team members through menopause include
• Regular check-ins with managers to ensure open dialogue
• Desk fans and good ventilation throughout our offices
• Quiet workplace rest areas
• Menopause drop-in sessions

If you want to work for a company that listens, understands and accommodates, browse our vacancies today on www.rightathome.co.uk/midcheshire