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Let’s say you’re considering menopause awareness training for you your managers or your workplace and you’re wondering is menopause workplace training is worth it?
I get it.
It’s a cost, it’s time away from the day job so you want to be sure it’s worth it.
I explain what menopause is, what the main symptoms of perimenopause and menopuase are and I check out what the benefits are for line managers, HR managers, Senior managers, staff retention and the organisation as a whole so you can decide if menopause awareness training is for you, your team, your business or your organisation.
What is menopause?
- It’s a natural stage of life when a woman’s oestrogen (hormone) levels declines, and she stops having periods
- Menopause typically happens between age 45 and 55
- The average age for a woman to undergo menopause in the UK is 51, but around 1 in 100 experience it before the age of 40
There are three stages:
- Peri-menopause
- Menopause
- Post menopause
Why is it so important to talk about menopause in the workplace?
- Most women will experience menopausal symptoms at some stage during their life
- It’s not optional for them. 100% of women will go through it
- Menopause can be natural and can also be brought on as a result of surgery, illness or treatment
In 2018 a Menopause Survey discovered:
- 76% of women said their symptoms were moderately or extremely problematic at work
- 20% said they had considered leaving work. (This increased to 44% for those whose symptoms were extremely problematic).
What are the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause?
Menopause can cause a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms that can last for several years.
The majority of menopausal women experience symptoms, but everyone is different.
Symptoms can fluctuate and be felt to varying degrees.
Experiencing any of the typical symptoms can pose a challenge for women as they go about their daily lives, including at work
Symptoms can be divided into two types:
- Physical and psychological
For most women, it’s the psychological symptoms that can be most debilitating.
What are the most common physical menopause-related symptoms?
The most common physical symptoms are:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy periods
- Hot flushes
- Muscle and joint pain
- Night sweats
- Chills
- Sleep problems
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism
What the most common psychological menopause-related symptoms?
The most common psychological symptoms are:
- Anger and irritability
- Anxiety
- Loss of self-esteem
- Loss of confidence
- Low mood and feelings of sadness or depression
- Poor concentration
- Brain fog
- Forgetfulness
How can managers, depending on their day-to-day roles, benefit from attending menopause awareness training?
Line managers
– Menopause awareness training is beneficial if they have colleagues who report directly to them.
Some of the benefits:
– Become more aware of the potential menopause symptoms
– How the symptoms can affect their colleague
– Understand what support to consider
– Gain an awareness of the law around menopause
HR Managers
– Can gain a better understanding of menopause, so they can ensure the organisation’s policies, guidelines and required training are in place.
High level managers
– Can be much better prepared to grow, develop and plan the culture and the general direction for the business.
Ditch the taboo
Menopause is currently seen as a taboo subject.
The more openly and easily we talk about menopause in the workplace the less of a taboo subject it is!
And everyone has the right to be fully supported in a work environment.
Want to know more about menopause awareness for your workplace?
Here’s some further reading.
5 factors that affect the cost of menopause awareness training
