Menopause support: For employers
Why does this matter to employers?
Research from Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD) shows that three in five workers experiencing menopause believe it has had a negative impact on them at work. But only a quarter of workers who have missed time due to menopause symptoms have felt able to tell their employer the real reason for their absence.
Women aged 45-55 are one of the fastest growing demographics of the workforce, and have a wealth of talent, knowledge, expertise and experience that would benefit any business. This trend is likely to continue as the UK population gets older. Organisations that create an environment where women can succeed throughout their working lives will put themselves in a stronger position to benefit both now and in the future.
The business case for providing menopause-related workplace support.
Developing a workplace that welcomes the recruitment, retention, and development of people of all ages brings many advantages:
- Multi-generational workplaces are shown to be more productive.
- Improved quality of working life helps productive workers to remain in work and take advantage of their years of experience.
- Inclusive working practices show your workforce and potential recruits that you’re serious about their wellbeing and career development.
- Organisations that have a workforce that is representative of their customers have been shown to be more successful.
- Replacing colleagues who leave is time-consuming and expensive. With recruitment costs rising and then you need to spend time getting your new recruit up to speed. And that’s not to mention the time it will take to replace all the knowledge, contacts and know-how that has just walked out the door.
- You also have a legal responsibility to make sure your ways of working aren’t discriminatory.
An employer guide to getting started:
- Consider use of a menopause business toolkit Menopause in the Workplace – Business in the Community
- Create an open and supportive workplace that is inclusive of everyone regardless of their personal situation The menopause at work: guidance for people managers | CIPD
- Promote awareness of menopause and the symptoms Menopause – NHS
- Ensure networks and opportunities are in place for anyone who might feel uncomfortable talking about menopause symptoms with their line manager. Menopause and the workplace | NHS Employers
- Understand your legal responsibilities as an employer. Menopause and the law: Menopause at work – Acas
- Make sure your recruitment, retention and working practices enable everyone to fulfil their potential. Good Recruitment for Older Workers GROW Toolkit: The REC
The British Standards Institution
- The British Standard BS 30416, Menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace – Guide, aims to support the health and well-being of all employees who menstruate or experience peri/menopause.
- This new resource, ‘The little book of menstruation, menstrual health and menopause – BSI‘, provides a straightforward, informative introduction to menstrual and menopausal health in the workplace. It offers practical guidance so employers can initiate discussions on the topic, create more awareness and make small but impactful adjustments to support workers.
- British Standard on Menstrual and Menopausal Health – this video is from the launch of the British Standards Institution on Menstrual and Menopausal Health in May 2023 in which leading experts discuss how to create a workplace environment that is suitable for everyone.
The Wellbeing of Women Menopause Workplace Pledge
Sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge and take positive action to make sure everyone going through menopause is supported. To date more than 2,500 employers including the BBC, Tesco and Royal Mail, have signed the pledge.
High-profile supporters include Royal Patron HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh and Ambassadors Baroness Karren Brady, Carol Vorderman and Dr Nighat Arif, as well as Caroline Nokes and Carolyn Harris MPs.
Advice and support for workers
Access different tools and support to share with your workers, including:
- NHS menopause support
- Menopause guidance
- Allyship programme
