Danger: menopause at work

Changes in the workplace

If you’ve ever felt tearful, out of control and unable to cope at work then you’re not alone. In fact, 10% of women have quit their job due to the menopause and many more don’t go for promotion, or swap to a less-demanding role.

Although 50-plus women are now employed in such large numbers, many wouldn’t dream of talking about menopause to their employers, often through embarrassment or fear of being sidelined. Instead, they have suffered in silence. Thankfully, though, things are finally changing.

‘More employers are starting to take menopause seriously,’ says Deborah Garlick, director at Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. ‘Organisations such as HSBC UK, Carnival UK, Sainsbury’s, Northumbrian Water, Southeastern and NHS Trusts,as well as many universities and local councils, have all benefited dramatically from looking after the wellbeing of their colleagues.’

If you are having menopausal symptoms at work, check if your company has a menopause spokesperson you can talk to. If not, book a meeting with your line manager. Try to overcome your embarrassment and remind yourself that your line manager is a professional, and that there is increasing awareness about menopause in the workplace. Book a time to talk, ideally in a private office. Prepare what you want to say: write a list of the symptoms you’re struggling with and how they are affecting your work. For each, suggest a solution. This gives your manager or HR officer the opportunity to work out what practical steps are needed. Here are some ideas...

✢ If hot flushes are a problem, you might want to move your desk near a window or ask to be provided with a fan. Check that you have adequate access to drinking water and a toilet.

✢ If some days you find it hard to concentrate, check if you can work in a quieter space or office.

✢ If you’re having problems sleeping at night, leaving you too tired to think straight, ask if you can come in later on some days.

✢ If you are feeling more anxious or stressed, suggest working at home some days.

✢ Plan a follow-up meeting with them to have an update.

You could also think about setting up an informal support group at work. Check if there are other women going through the menopause and suggest meeting up one lunchtime a week to chat about your experiences.