Professional and Technical sectors – advice and information
Businesses in the professional and technical sectors encompass a wide range of industries such as legal firms, engineering companies, IT consultancies, architectural practices, accounting firms, marketing agencies, and more.
It’s important to recognise and address the unique impact of menopause on employees in these fields. This information provides practical insights for individuals and organisations, from new start up businesses to established corporation, striving to foster a culture of inclusivity and support in their workplace.
Top tips
- Look at ways to cool the working environment, for example provide a fan, move a desk close to a window or adjust the air conditioning.
- Provide easy access to cold drinking water and washrooms.
- Make sanitary products available in washrooms.
- Encourage employees to discuss concerns at one-to-one meetings with their manager or supervisor and/or HR or occupational health.
- Don’t make assumptions – everyone is different, so take your lead from the individual.
- Discuss possible adjustments to tasks and duties that are proving a challenge.
- Allow someone to move around or stay mobile, if that helps.
- Allow someone to temporarily work from home if they have very heavy bleeding.
- If working from home or in a hybrid arrangement, encourage shorter meetings, with frequent breaks in between.
- Have agreed protected time to catch up with work.
- Provide a quiet area to work.
- Recognise someone may need to take short-term absence if they have difficult symptoms.
- Approach performance conversations supportively and positively.
- Take any health issues fully into account where there is underperformance on the part of an individual.
- Signpost to an employee assistance programme or counselling services if available.