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How To Manage Menopause In The Workplace? | A Ultimate Guide

What does menopause have to do with work? Sometimes nothing. And wouldn’t that be great if that was always the case? If only we were all able to function at a consistent level of efficiency.

But, we are human. Unfortunately, that comes with things that affect our professional as well as personal lives. Some women sail through their menopause with barely a symptom, but it’s certainly not an easy transition for all.

By talking about manage menopause in the workplace openly, raising awareness, and putting the right support in place, we can only hope to reach a point where menopause is no longer an issue in the workplace at all.

Normalizing Menopause in the Workplace

Menopause is completely natural.  Every woman will experience it (usually between the ages of 45 and 55) at some point in her life. Despite this, there is still a considerable stigma about talking about menopause at work.

The menopause can be stressful enough for women without the challenges of dealing with it in front of your colleagues. And, apart from pregnancy, the management of gender-specific health issues is rarely discussed in the workplace.

However, women are often working whilst affected by a range of symptoms, from hot flushes. Which are uncomfortable and can be embarrassing; flooding which can be a nightmare if access to a toilet is restricted; “unprofessional” mood swings due to hormonal imbalances; or anxiety and loss of confidence due to “brain fog” which might impact performance.

The Stigma of Talking About Manage Menopause at Work

According to the Office of National Statistics, menopausal women are the fastest-growing workforce demographic. With around 4 million women over the age of 50 in the UK workforce, according to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, nearly 8 out of 10 menopausal women are in work and 3 out of 4 women will experience symptoms. 1 in 4 of those will be seriously affected.

Most women do not tell anyone at work or seek adjustments, out of concern for privacy, worrying about the reaction of others, or simply not knowing who to tell. Women are more likely to speak to line managers or colleagues rather than to HR or Occupational Health.

Many workplaces don’t even have any policies relating to menopause and therefore, they do not always know how to seek support.

The Growing Demographic of Menopausal Women in the Workforce

It is essential that employers recognize the challenges that menopause can present and provide support for their female employees during this transition. What employers can do is what you’d expect of any employer who wants to attract and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce.

This starts with creating the environment to talk about manage menopause in the workplace openly and without embarrassment. It is a natural phase in every woman’s life that needs to be normalized.

Managers often worry they suddenly need to become medical experts.  This is not the case! Our experience in workplace menopause training shows that it is possible to bring this hidden subject out into the open relatively easily with the right approach.

We look forward to bringing you a 6-part series that will look at the big questions around menopause in the workplace, as well as, some of the ways we can kick-start a cultural change and restore balance.

Simply follow us to access all the latest information, top tips, and support for your organization. Check Menopause Nutritional Consultancy & Wellbeing

Author – Nutritional Scientist

Kumud Gandhi is a Food Scientist, Nutritionist, and expert on Wellness in the Workplace.  She talks about Menopause in the Workplace and provides nutritional coaching to help develop eating strategies to suit the symptoms of menopause.

Kumud Gandhi is a keynote speaker on the subject of  ‘The Science of our food’ and how the naturally occurring chemistry of our food choices impacts our human biology. You can contact her directly at kumud@thecookingacademy.co.uk

Join our Eating for Menopause cookery class to create the right menopause diet for you.

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