MENOPAUSE AND WORK
Managing menopause at work
Are you experiencing menopause at work? Are you perimenopausal, feeling less like yourself, and finding it difficult to concentrate or work effectively? If discussing menopause with your boss feels uncomfortable, you're not alone.
At Positive Pause, we're here to support you in navigating menopause symptoms in the workplace. Discover practical tips, effective strategies, and helpful suggestions to help you manage this phase with confidence. Your well-being matters, and we're here to provide the support you need at work.
It is good practice for all organisations to have a menopause at work strategy, or at least be aware of the CIPD guidance. There should be a very clear commitment from any organisation that menopause is a workplace concern, and this should involve developing a menopause policy if there is not one already in place.
Within these menopause policies, line managers should have training in the signs and symptoms of menopause and how to manage, help and support their teams who may be experiencing symptoms.
The Equality Act 2010 states that although menopause is not an illness or disability, the effects of symptoms experienced may at times be disabling for women which means that employers who fail to properly support women could be found to be discriminatory.
44% of women say their menopause symptoms have affected their ability to work, our expertise is making menopause workplace support accessible in organisations.
As menopause in the workplace experts, Positive Pause offer friendly menopause workshops to help break the stigma of menopause, and foster open conversations between employees and their line managers. Don’t suffer in silence, it is your right to feel supported within your workplace.
“I’ve just attended your ‘Menopause at Work’ training and feel so much more confident about talking about this at work. I’ve been able to be honest with my team and boss for the first time about how I’m feeling and we discussed the support that I need to cope when I am having a ‘moment’! Thank you, I feel like a new woman (almost)!”
Train to be a Menopause Ambassador in your workplace
Positive Pause deliver online Menopause Ambassador or Menopause Champion training so that you can be a friendly point of menopause support within your workplace. We equip you with the skills, knowledge and resources to raise awareness and foster a more inclusive workplace.
Why become a Menopause Ambassador? Because you are the best person to create a supportive and open working environment to empower yourself and your colleagues. By becoming a Menopause Ambassador you can help to reduce the stigma surrounding menopause and improve staff retention.
What can you expect from our Menopause Ambassador training?
Positive Pause training is suitable for anyone with a passion to enhance their knowledge and understanding of menopause and who have a drive to create a more supportive and non-discriminatory environment for those experiencing this transition, or for individuals who are directly, living, or working with menopausal women.
Becoming a Menopause Ambassador will not only benefit the individuals you support but also the wider organisation and society as a whole. You will gain practical skills with short-term impact that have long-term sustainability.
Menopause Champion Training includes:
What your role as a Menopause Ambassador is.
How to have sensitive conversations.
Signposting towards support available in the workplace.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion around menopause.
Flexible working and reasonable adjustments.
How to set up and resource a support group.
We tailor your online Menopause Ambassador training workshops to suit your specific workplace needs.
Email us to find out how we can help you to support your menopausal colleagues.
Tips for coping with menopause at work
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RECOGNISE
What changes have you noticed? What are your symptoms & how are they impacting on you at work?
Night sweats and insomnia affecting concentration?
Are you feeling less like yourself and less in control, with the all-too-common brain fog?
Do you feel more stressed or less able to deal with stress?
Are you dealing with hot flushes and/or sudden, heavy periods?
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IDENTIFY
What reasonable adjustments could help you going through your menopause in the workplace?
A change in work allocation?
Flexible working?
Moving workspace closer to a window, or fan?
Request a different uniform, if relevent?
Having a buddy system in place, if you need to go to the toilet when heavy flooding starts?
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SEEK HELP
What can help when talking to your line manager or HR team about your menopause experience?
Prepare for any conversation.
Make notes of how and when your menopause symptoms affect you at work.
What short-term adjustments could help you?
Remember your manager has to listen to your concerns and maintain your confidentiality.
HOW TO START THE MENOPAUSE CONVERSATION
If menopause symptoms are having an impact on you at work and it’s time to talk to your line manager or HR about something that’s very personal, how can this best be done?
How to talk to a manager about menopause at work?
Explain
In this meeting, explain how symptoms impact on you at work this may be where a diary or notes can really help to pinpoint where specific support may be needed
And remember…..
Employers should support everyone equally and keep health conversations confidential and private. This is particularly important if someone talks about their gender identity when discussing their menopause symptoms and doesn’t want it widely known.
Agree who, if anyone, you would like to know about any changes.
Prepare & practice
As you start to notice changes at work keep a diary – just a few weeks so you can summarise/make notes. (These notes can also help when talking to GP) And maybe practice what you want to say?
Book a time!
Book a protected time as you would for any important discussion.
Think
Before going into the meeting think about what you would like to get out of this conversation? What’s having the greatest impact? What changes may help? These may only need to be short term.
