Menopause in the workplace: advice and tips from Right at Home Sefton

Why should we talk about menopause in the workplace? 

• Over 51% of the UK population will go through/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
• 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, essentially important that these employees are supported in the workplace and prevented from feeling forced that they have to leave  

How to talk to your employer about your menopause:

• Although it may feel daunting for some to discuss menopause with employers/line manager 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 manager through them
• Think of a few possible adjustments 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

How to support your colleagues experiencing menopause?

• When 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 all the answers  but just offering a listening ear to what your colleague is going through will help them to feel supported and can take a weight off their shoulders
• Make the effort to recognise the effects 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 consider 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

Jonathan Beckett, Director, Right at Home Sefton - “I think we're really lucky being in the care sector because we are a very female-dominated environment and that is always going to make it easier for dialogue to be had around sensitive topics such as the menopause. I personally cannot profess to have all of the answers, quite the opposite actually. Up until we recently launched this initiative I would have been one of those feeling uncomfortable in the discussion, but  once we began talking openly and approaching the subject head on, accompanied by the 'sisterhood' feeling created amongst our predominantly female workforce, I know that we in Right at Home Sefton are better equipped and now is the best place to have these discussions."

Support with menopause from Right at Home Sefton

• Our CareGivers, office team and managers are the backbone of Right at Home Sefton
• 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

Interested to learn more?

• Finding an employer who understands and supports you through menopause is extremely important

• That’s why Right at Home Sefton are doing all we can to support our CareGivers affected by menopause
• If you want to work for a company that listens, understands and accommodates, browse our opportunities available today  

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