Torild Boe Stokes’ Post

🌸 Breaking the Silence on Menopause in the Workplace 🌸 October is menopause awareness month so how aware is your office environment of what your 40+ year old female staff is going through? The workplace must adapt to support this phase of life so let’s break the stigma and start conversations that promote healthier, more inclusive work environments. Menopause isn't a female excuse to slack off - women understand that this would cost them their jobs. Ironically, trying to operate at 100% under normal working conditions whilst pretending that everything is OK is still costing women their jobs - they are cutting back or quitting because what they simply can not cope. What women go through in menopause is not being taken into respectful consideration in the workplace. This has to change. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding menopause often prevents open discussions, leaving women without the support they need. Here's why menopause matters in the workplace: 🔸 Retention: Women at the peak of their careers shouldn't feel forced to leave due to symptoms that can be managed with the right accommodations. 🔸 Inclusion: Creating a culture of understanding ensures all employees feel valued, regardless of life stage. 🔸 Support: Simple adjustments, like flexible working hours or better awareness among colleagues, can make a significant difference. I offer a range of presentations that help bring understanding, education and support for women in the workplace. Menopause is a natural transition, yet many women suffer in silence, feeling isolated or misunderstood due to symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, or fatigue. Don't lose valuable members of your team because you don't understand what they are going through. https://lnkd.in/ed3f-2Qx for corporate awareness and responsibility #MenopauseAwareness #InclusiveWorkplace #SupportWomenAtWork #EmployeeWellbeing #BreakingTheSilence

Missed the BSI LinkedIn Live on menopause in the workplace? Here's what you need to know! Last week, we teamed up with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and Ericsson for a powerful LinkedIn Live session on supporting menopause in the workplace. We explored how organisations can move from treating menopause as a taboo to making it a business priority. If you couldn't join us, here are some key ‘do’s and don’ts’ based on the valuable insights shared around the virtual room: Do: ✓ Normalise the conversation: Break the silence around menopause by fostering open discussions. This encourages understanding and support across all levels of the organisation. ✓ Tailor policies: Develop menopause-friendly policies that offer flexible working options and physical adjustments to accommodate symptoms. ✓ Adopt a standards-based approach: Implement frameworks like BSI’s BS 30416 to guide your organisation in creating inclusive, supportive environments. ✓ Invest in leadership support: Ensure C-suite and senior leadership are on board and actively championing menopause initiatives. ✓ Create peer support networks: Consider coaching circles and other support groups to provide a safe space for women experiencing menopause. Don’t: ❌ Ignore the business impact: Menopause affects talent retention and performance. Ignoring it risks losing valuable midlife women in leadership pipelines. ❌ Dismiss intersectionality: Be mindful that menopause intersects with age, race, and gender. A one-size-fits-all approach won't work. ❌ Limit the conversation to HR: Menopause is not just an HR issue; it’s a business imperative. Make it part of your broader diversity and inclusion strategy. ❌ Underestimate the power of small changes: Simple adjustments like temperature control and flexible schedules can make a big difference for those experiencing symptoms. ❌ Miss the opportunity to lead: Being a menopause-friendly employer sets you apart in the war for talent, positioning your organisation as an inclusive and progressive workplace. Download the BSI Standard, check out Shape Talent Ltd’s resources and learn how you can create a menopause-friendly workplace that supports talent retention and drives organisational success. https://lnkd.in/e7jjeEmh #BSI #TalentManagement #GenderEquality 

🌍 World Menopause Day – A workplace conversation we can no longer ignore! Today, millions of women around the world are balancing their careers while navigating the challenges of menopause. In the UK alone, 4.5 million women aged 50-64 are in the workforce, many dealing with symptoms that can affect their performance and well-being. But this isn't just a UK issue – it’s global. Around 657 million women aged 45 and older are part of the workforce worldwide. Studies show that 59% of women experience menopausal symptoms that impact their work, and 1 in 10 are considering leaving their jobs because of these challenges. We can and should do better. This World Menopause Day, let’s show support for women at work by normalising conversations about menopause. It’s also vital that we push for more inclusive policies that ensure every woman can thrive, no matter her stage of life. Together, we can create workplaces where women feel empowered, supported, and truly seen. If you’d like to explore my “Menopause in the Workplace” options, get in touch or visit: https://lnkd.in/dHMWH4XG. Let’s get our workplaces talking menopause today! #worldmenopauseday #menopausematters #womenshealth #workplacewellbeing #supportwomen #menopauseawareness TendrMint

🌸 Happy World Menopause Day! 🌸 Today, we honor the strength and resilience of women experiencing menopause. It’s time to break the silence, end the stigma, and create workplaces where menopause is openly discussed and fully supported. ✨ How Can Businesses Help? ✨ By fostering menopause-inclusive cultures and offering training for ALL colleagues, businesses can ensure their teams are informed and ready to support women during this important life stage. 🌟 Key Steps for an Inclusive Workplace: 1. Training & Awareness: Equip employees with knowledge on menopause and how to support colleagues and partners. 2. Inclusive Policies: Implement flexible working, health support, and open conversation policies. 3. Supportive Leadership: Foster a compassionate and understanding workplace culture. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you implement effective menopause-at-work initiatives and create a supportive environment for all. Let’s work together to make every woman feel supported—at work, at home, and in life. 💪 #WorldMenopauseDay #MenopauseAwareness #InclusiveWorkplaces #SupportWomen #MenopauseAtWork #Wellbeing #WomensHealth #meg

🌸 World Menopause Day 2024: Breaking the Silence in the Workplace 🌸 Today, on #WorldMenopauseDay, let’s open up the conversation about a natural yet often overlooked phase in a woman’s life: menopause. Menopause can bring physical, emotional, and psychological challenges, which can affect performance and well-being at work. But here’s the truth: with awareness, understanding, and support, we can create more inclusive environments where women feel empowered and not embarrassed by this transition. Here are a few ways organizations can support their employees through menopause: * Flexible work arrangements to accommodate symptoms like fatigue or hot flashes. * Awareness training for managers and colleagues to foster understanding and reduce stigma. * Access to healthcare support and well-being resources. Let’s recognize that by supporting women through all stages of life, we build a healthier, more inclusive workplace. #MenopauseAwareness #InclusiveWorkplace #EmployeeWellbeing #SupportWomen #DiversityAndInclusion

After World Menopause Day a couple of weeks ago, colleagues at Magenta continued the conversation through our second ‘Let’s Talk Menopause’ event. According to research, one in four women consider leaving work due to menopause symptoms, with one in 10 women opting to leave their jobs all together. At Magenta our purpose is to empower people. To achieve this, we need to sustain a culture where everyone feels seen, heard and valued. Talking about Menopause and other life experiences, helps to dispel stigma, provides valuable information and enables us to identify solutions which make working life more fulfilling for everyone. Our 'Let's Talk' event uncovered the following topics and actions... 🤹♀️ Debate around organisational polices and the balance of specific polices versus a more rounded wellbeing policies 🙋♀️ How important it is to create an environment where people can talk (if they want to!) 👨🎓 How we can learn from individual experience to ensure we support and retain great people 🤗Co-creating solutions with male and female colleagues to ensure they are practical 😊 How small things can make a huge difference (desk fans are on the way!!) So, let’s keep talking, and convert conversation to action! #WordMenopauseDay #Let’sTalkMenopause #EmpoweringPeople Debi Marriott-Lavery Terri-Ann Waldock MCIPD Steven Nichol Megan Bracken Alexandra Preston

🔊 Sadly, this is a common story, and highlights once again why we need to be creating supportive and inclusive menopause friendly workplaces if we want to attract and retain top talent within our organisations. Here are 5 practical top tips to creating menopause friendly workplaces: 👩🏫 Provide training for employees, to create a culture of understanding 🙋♀️ Provide training for Line Managers to enable them to support their teams 📃 Create and publish a menopause policy or guidance document (and don't leave it gathering dust in a drawer!) ✨ Make a commitment to women's health at a senior management level and normalise the conversation by encouraging everyone to talk openly about menopause at work. 🤗 Remember that everyone is affected at some stage, either directly or indirectly, so it's important we include all employees in this important conversation. #menopauseatwork #licencedtrainer #icanhelp #equalitydiversityinclusion #womenshealth #menopausetrainer https://lnkd.in/ejRTZ5Qq

Offices Today - How much people know about menopause is staggering! Unfortunately, it is still commonplace in organisations: 90% of women say that they do not receive any support from their workplace to promote their well-being during menopause. It's clear to me that ignoring this issue damages the working environment and risks losing an experienced, qualified workforce. And the fact is that stigmas and taboos often keep the issue quiet, meaning that many companies are unaware of the problem. Instead, I have another suggestion: create an open dialogue about menopause in the workplace. Proactively addressing this taboo subject not only creates a supportive working environment, but also promotes team cohesion. And that, in turn, increases overall well-being and productivity. What do you think: should companies do more to support women going through the menopause? ~~~ ✍️ Are you a supporter of women 45+? ♻️ Re-post if this makes sense.

Imagine navigating your career while dealing with hot flashes, mood swings, and brain fog—all while pretending nothing’s wrong. For too long, menopause has been a taboo topic in the workplace, leaving countless women to suffer in silence. This needs to change. Menopause is a natural phase in every woman’s life, yet it's rarely discussed openly, especially in professional settings. The lack of conversation and support can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety, impacting both personal well-being and professional performance. Sally Higham is set to break the silence and change the narrative with her powerful Impulse Talk, "Menopause in the Workplace." She will share strategies for creating a more supportive work environment that recognizes and accommodates the needs of women going through menopause. Sally's talk is not just about raising awareness—it's about empowering women and organizations alike to address menopause with empathy, understanding, and action. Join us to learn how we can make our workplaces more inclusive and supportive for all women, no matter what stage of life they’re in. 📅 Date: September 20th 📍 Location: Syngenta Basel https://lnkd.in/gHhQczan #ThriveConference #WomenEmpowerment #Leadership #Mentorship #BaselEvents #LastChance #Menopause

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 - 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? Today is 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲, so let's talk about this critical workplace issue: how menopause is affecting your workforce and the steps you can take to support them. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞. 𝟏 𝐢𝐧 𝟒 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬. That’s talent, experience, and expertise walking out the door. Whether it’s offering flexible working, creating a menopause policy, or supporting access to 𝐇𝐑𝐓, businesses have the power to make a real difference. With the right education, awareness, and support, we can create environments where no one has to choose between their health and their career. ➡️ 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲? I’ve created a free guide packed with practical steps you can start using right away to support your team and boost retention. Just message me, and I’ll send it over! ➡️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞? I’d love to exchange ideas and see how we can all create more menopause-positive workplaces. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 #𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐃𝐚𝐲 everyone! Together, we can make sure menopause doesn’t cost businesses their best talent. Caryn. #MenopauseInTheWorkplace #HRT #InclusiveWorkplace #TalentRetention #WellbeingAtWork #MenopauseSupport