Menopause is everyone’s business! Let's start the discussion!

Menopause is everyone’s business! Let’s get involved in the discussion.

As a senior HR professional and business leader, I continue to make it my business to understand more about the impact of menopause on women both inside and outside of the workplace. Why some might ask? Well, simply because I strongly believe we have a duty of care to our people,  but more than that, to our partners (in some cases), our colleagues, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, friends, sisters and aunties who will experience menopause at some point in their lives.

I have been looking into this issue for around four years and find there is always something new to learn. Here are a few facts to get you going on your own journey. If you are not a women and happen to be reading this, then THANK YOU. One of the big things holding most of our organisations back from achieving our full success is the continued absence of more senior women sitting at the most senior levels of our organisation. If men often serve as the majority (sad but true), then we have to figure out how we can better serve our people and organisations. In order to create meaningful action, first must come education!

I was horrified to discover that only more recently was a decision made to start training Doctors/GP’s on how to identify signs of menopause with their patients. In fact, a very good friend of mine was wrongly prescribed anti-depressants when instead her problem was she was going through menopause and this had not been picked up.

Here are ten startling facts that I have compiled to start building more understanding:

1. An avoidable awareness gap: A report by Deloitte shone a light on the fact that 70% of managers lack training on how to support employees going through. menopause, indicating a significant gap in workplace awareness and policy.
2. Stigma and Silence: The CIPD found that 60% of women don’t feel comfortable discussing menopause at work, leading to a lack of appropriate support.
3. Inhibiting career advancement: Harvard Business Review shared a study that showed 40% of women experiencing menopause feel it has negatively impacted their career progression and opportunities for advancement.
4. Cognitive Function Changes: Research published in the journal Menopause indicated that women can experience cognitive changes during menopause, including difficulties with memory and attention. A study found that up to 61% of women reported experiencing cognitive symptoms like forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, this can significantly affect job performance and decision-making abilities.
5. Impact on Mental Health: A survey conducted by The British Menopause Society found that 80% of women reported experiencing mood swings, anxiety, or depression during menopause, significantly affecting the quality of their workplace interactions.
6. Declining hormone levels: Hormonal swings can be typical during menopause, disrupting sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and fatigue, which further impairs concentration, decision-making, and overall job performance.
7. Healthcare Gaps: A survey by Bupa found that only 30% of workplaces have policies addressing menopause, leaving many women without proper healthcare support during this phase.
8. Increased Cortisol: The hormonal changes can lead to elevated cortisol levels, contributing to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, making it challenging to manage workplace demands.
9. Work Environment Challenges: According to a study by the Menopause Charity, 76% of women reported that hot flashes and temperature control issues made it difficult to work comfortably in office environments.
10. Hormonal Fluctuations: During menopause, oestrogen and progesterone levels drop significantly, affecting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and cognitive function.

Whether the above is new news to you or not, there is a bigger question at play here.

What are you/we/us actually going to do about stepping up our support of those going through menopause themselves?

My five part advice would be:

• Fuel your thirst for more knowledge on this subject by reading more about it.
• Ask a female friend, colleague or loved one to explain more about the impact menopause has on their lives and understand what kind of support they would benefit from.
• Reach out to experts such as Amantha King Coaching who can come in an organisations such as The Menopause Charity to discuss what /www.themenopausecharity.org/
• Challenge your own internal policies to ensure they are inclusive and considerate of what contemporary organisations could be doing to provide better support.
• Take responsibility for personally championing the discussions on this topic and do all you can to  ensure you continue momentum.

There is a much to do but we can all start the journey today!

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