World Menopause Day is held every year on the 18th October to raise awareness of issues surrounding the menopause and to support options for improving health and wellbeing.
The ACAS website reports that around two million women aged over 50 in the UK have experienced difficulties at work due to their menopause symptoms and it is estimated that one in 20 women could go through an early menopause.
The effects of the menopause vary depending on the individual but can include; –
- Tiredness
- Lack of energy
- Hot flushes
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Headaches
- Struggling to concentrate or focus
In turn, these symptoms can lead to staff feeling ill, losing confidence to do their job or feeling stressed, anxious or depressed.
This year, workplace expert ACAS published new guidance on World Menopause Day to help employers and managers understand and support staff who are affected by menopause symptoms at work and to help employees to approach their employer if they are suffering from menopause-related symptoms and need some support at work.
The ACAS website confirms that its new guidance includes tips on how employers can:
- Create and implement a menopause policy
- Provide awareness training for managers to deal with any concerns in a sensitive way
- Create an open and trusted culture within the team
- Make changes where possible such as altering working hours
- Implement low-cost environmental changes such as providing desk fans
- Increase awareness of employment laws that can relate to menopause issues at work such as the risks of sex, disability or age discrimination
The guidance intends to help employers in implementing a system of meaningful workplace support for anyone experiencing the menopause and the full guidance can be found on the ACAS website.