Learn from the leaders this World Menopause Day (Friday October 18) and Menopause Awareness Month

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Author: DEBORAH GARLICK

With a large proportion of the workforce experiencing menopause, it is crucial to raise awareness about menopause at work.  World Menopause Day is a great time to start or reignite the conversation. This is important because:

• 18% of the average UK workforce is menopausal 
• 70% of people experience stress as a result of menopause
• 1 in 10 leave work due to their experience during menopause
• 46% will not disclose their struggles due to fear of negative perception

Not only are talented employees lost from an organisation that is not menopause friendly, but individuals’ lives can be ruined as leaving work impacts their income, their pension, their sense of self and their enjoyment of working.

Changing the workplace culture will change people’s lives

Opening up the conversation and putting the right support in place is not just the right thing to do: it can boost productivity, reduce absenteeism and support employers in retaining experienced talent.

Menopause Friendly workplaces can change the narrative – and the lived experience of people working through their menopause. Reasonable adjustments need not be expensive or difficult to implement and small changes can make a big difference.

The Labour Government’s call for all employers with 250+ employees to have a Menopause Action Plan has put menopause high on the HR agenda.  But just where do employers start? What help is out there for them?

Below are some news story ideas/angles and I’d be happy to work with you to shape a bespoke news piece on menopause in the workplace to mark World Menopause Day and Menopause Awareness Month 2024.

ACTIONABLE INSIGHT

We know from experience that signing a pledge or downloading a policy is a step in the right direction but, alone, won’t make sufficient impact. What’s needed are sector-specific policies, training, education and support bespoke to each workplace that fully understand and address the challenges and opportunities within their organisation.

• We can offer steps/tips to help employers get started

MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY ACCREDITATION

A key step to driving tangible change is to gain The Menopause Friendly Accreditation – just over 100 organisations have now achieved this from charities to high street banks, football clubs to government departments. The Menopause Friendly Accreditation is industry-recognised as the mark of excellence at work, celebrated by the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee) as a must-do for employers large and small.

So much more than a tick box exercise, promise or pledge, Menopause Friendly Accreditation means employers have demonstrated to an Independent Panel of experts that they are a great place to work for those experiencing menopause by meet strict criteria across five key pillars: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.

• To find out more how this accreditation sets employers apart you can speak to some of those who have been Accredited

AWARD WINNING ORGANISATIONS

Now in its third year, the prestigious 2024 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards (on September 11^th, 2024) recognised organisations and individuals whose commitment and determination have succeeded in providing support, solutions and resources that normalise menopause in the workplace.

• Contact me if you’d like to speak to some of the organisations / individuals who won this year including: BAE Systems, Thames Valley Police, Lancashire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Close Brothers, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Young Epilepsy, Huddersfield Town Football Club and Specsavers

INDUSTRY EXPERT

WIth eight years of experience dedicated to training, educating and supporting employers to be menopause-friendly, I'm a recognised leader in menopause policy and practice within the workplace and have extensive knowledge in both the private and public sectors.

I've played a pivotal role in supporting thousands of employers, creating the industry-recognised Menopause Friendly Accreditation. My expertise extends to advising the BSI on guidance documents and directing Menopause Friendly initiatives globally, including in the UK, Australia and the US.

Internationally recognised, my Henpicked: Menopause In the Workplace teams deliver training across the UK, Europe, Asia and more, and a growing number of US and Australian employers are joining in through Menopause Friendly Australia and Menopause Friendly US.

We led the charge for menopause friendly in 2016 – when there wasn’t a menopause policy in the land – and continue to do so.

• Contact me if you’d like some bespoke comment/insight/actionable advice