Supporting Menopause in the Workplace (1 day)

Location

Online Session

As at least 50% of the population is female, the menopause will directly affect at least half the population at some point.

But if you then add those who love, live with or work with these women to that figure, then everyone is affected by the menopause. So paying close attention to the causes, symptoms and effects in the workplace stands to reason.

A poll of 3,800 women in the UK created by leading menopause expert, Dr Louise Newson, who runs the not-for-profit Newson Health Research and Education, found that the majority felt the menopause (or the months and years leading up to it), had a huge impact on their careers.

In a recent survey, 99% of women felt their perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms had a negative impact on their careers, with more than a third describing the impact as ‘significant’. Around 59% took time off work due to symptoms and 18 percent were off for more than eight weeks. (Sky News, October 2021).

Companies that know how to support their teams in the right way, will:

• retain talent and experience
• become more attractive places to work
• cultivate a happier and healthier workforce

Course Overview

This course will provide you with a clear understanding of the menopause. This includes the (many) common misconceptions surrounding the menopause, as well as the legal position of an organisation when supporting women through this time in their lives and looking at best practice to help you create a menopause policy for your organisation.

You will also learn about the wide range of symptoms and receive guidance on the support available to employees going through the menopause. You will also know how to provide advice and start a conversation.

Women currently represent 47% of the UK workforce, 28% of whom are aged 50 and above. The average age for a woman to go through the menopause is 51.

Women can experience a huge range of different menopause and perimenopause symptoms. Some of these can lead to increased absence and lower levels of engagement and productivity.

It is not uncommon for colleagues and managers to find it difficult to discuss the menopause. This is often due to a lack of understanding, or a fear they may offend or even make things worse.

As an added consideration, the legal implications of not providing employees with the necessary support and adjustments at work can be costly – this is not only in financial terms but also within teams, impacting morale, productivity and even absence.

Without the right support at work, women can end up feeling they have no choice but to leave their job, and maybe even employment altogether. But all of this is easily avoidable.

Who is this course for

This course is aimed at managers, team leaders, HR professionals and business owners and decision makers within organisations or those taking the lead within their organisation.

Course Content

The structure is designed to encourage discussion and interaction. It will cover:

● Menopause – symptoms, awareness and misconceptions

● Talent retention and employee engagement

● The development of support networks and organisational awareness

● Legal considerations concerning discrimination, reasonable adjustments and sickness absence

•       Providing advice and starting a conversation

● Action planning including the development of a menopause policy

● Appropriate considerations when performance doesn’t improve following measures being put in place

Assessment/Certification

A ‘Menopause Awareness Certificate of Attendance’ is issued upon completion of the course.