According to Menopause Support UK there are currently 13 million peri- or post-menopausal women in the U.K . Perimenopause is when hormone levels begin to fluctuate and symptoms may appear, often in the early to mid-forties, and Menopause means 12 consecutive months without a period (the average age is just 51-52 yrs). 

So much has been done in the last few years to break the taboo of women in this stage of life, and allowing everyone to feel they can have a conversation with their line manager, especially when they need guidance or advice on changes needed to make work life less challenging.

It is essential to educate managers about the menopause, who it can affect, and how they can support colleagues going through it. Give adequate training and development to confidently manage their team and train managers to take a proactive and positive approach to performance management that takes on board any health issues.

How prepared is your workplace?

Our new training course is here to provide some basic guidance on how to best support and adapt your workplace for the benefit of your staff and ongoing productivity.

How confident do you think a member of your team would feel to talk to you about the menopause? Research from Bupa has shown that almost a million women have left their job because of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and increased anxiety, while others are forced to take long-term absence from work to manage their symptoms.

Often a few simple changes to the working environment can make a world of difference – even just talking about the menopause openly can reduce the impact of some symptoms and enable people to continue performing well in their roles. 

Line managers should play a vital role in supporting their colleagues with menopausal symptoms 

·         understand and reduce the barriers that could potentially prevent a colleague  going through the menopause transition from performing and/or developing to their full potential 

·         identify appropriate workplace changes or adjustments to support team members and help them thrive at work 

·         provide inclusive working environment in which everyone is treated fairly. 

We look forward to helping you and your staff plan and prepare for making improvements to the workplace and providing a supportive structure to get the best from all employees.

For further information, please contact Catherine McGeady: catherine@ghskills.com