Menopause and Work: It’s Time to Talk

The response from the people of Nottingham when BBC Radio asked them the question, ‘What do you think of when we say 'the menopause'?’ did not surprise me at all. In fact, it was a reflection of the way we’ve heard it described many times in our Henpicked community and our social media….

‘Old’, ‘miserable’, ‘past it’, ‘painful’, ‘hot flushes’, ‘for older women’, ‘don’t know enough about it really’.

No wonder so many people don’t really want to talk about it. But what’s the point in burying your head in the sand about something that every single woman will go through at some point in her life, and that those around her will experience too?

That’s why the team and members of the Henpicked community decided it was time to do something about it. When we held a focus group with our authors to discuss what our hopes, fears and questions were, we got a different perspective. 

There were women who’d sailed through the menopause and actually felt better for it. There were those who felt more creative, and 'what’s to miss about periods anyway?'

We talked about other parts of the world where women enjoyed a new status in their community, revered as the wise women once they’d been through menopause.

So, how can we find a way to have more of that? How can we find a way for every woman to sail through menopause, dramatically reduce the suffering of women with symptoms, and talk about it openly?

How can we help the millions of menopausal women in the UK live better lives, not be embarrassed and know what to do if they do need more help?

This is not a women’s issue – what about the husbands, partners, family members and colleagues who are experiencing menopause too by just being around us? How many relationships of every type suffer as a result of not doing something about this?

Surely that’s important in treating everyone with respect and dignity.

Doable? Yes I think so, if enough of us join together and focus on making it happen.

Which is where the Henpicked community’s two campaigns come in:

1: Menopause in the workplace

Progressive organisations value their people and know that an employee’s wellbeing is important to business success. It helps individual performance and creates a better environment or culture.

Having published articles and a book about the menopause, asking employers to back us by introducing menopause policies and practices means we can help even more women. Helping create the right conversations and support.

The employers who came to our first event in February already have plans underway and I’m truly inspired by their enthusiasm and action.

Imagine if every organisation followed these ambassadors, giving women the support they need; leaders can have good conversations about something they’re well clued up on, making the reasonable adjustments that mean careers are not interrupted.

When I started work over 35 years ago many organisations didn’t have maternity policies. I remember one of my friends taking holiday to go to antenatal classes. It took a while for that to change but it did.

How great would it be if the same support was given for menopause? I’m not talking about statutory leave, just some very simple adjustments or conversations could make all the difference.

Surely that just makes sense in an ageing population where 1 in 3 workers will be over 50 in 2020, we’re working until we’re 68 and menopause can hit at an important time in your career or work. Our experience is needed in our businesses.

2: Nottingham: the first menopause-friendly city in the UK

As Nottingham was where I was born and live, and where Henpicked.net started, of course I’d like to see my friends and family be the first in the UK to feel liberated from the menopause taboo. 

Personally I haven’t had many symptoms (my husband’s view may differ), but I’ve been shocked by the experiences of too many of my friends.

The focus has been on what we share through Henpicked.net, both the website and social media; followed by the easy guide book and educational events for menopausal women. 

More activity is to come, we won’t stop until we are all talking about menopause openly and helping women get the support they need. Please, please help us.

Together we can help thousands and thousands of women (and men) live better lives.

This is a guest post, written by Deborah Garlick, director of henpicked.net -the website for over 40s.