Most women will experience menopausal symptoms at some point in their lives. Non-binary, intersex or trans people can also be affected. Some of these symptoms can be quite severe and have a significant impact on everyday activities.
The menopause affects around half of the nation's workforce and yet it is rarely talked about in the workplace. This means that staff members might not be getting all the support they need when they are having these symptoms.
There are many different factors that can impact on how someone experiences or perceives menopause. Disability, age, race, religion, sexual orientation or marital/civil partnership status may contribute to how menopause is managed and experienced. While menopause can affect everyone differently, for many, this stage of life brings significant challenges in dealing with both emotional and physical symptoms of menopause and this often coincides with the demands of caring for both children and parents at the same time.
At the University of Stirling, we know that this life event can influence an individual’s wellbeing at work, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where colleagues who are experiencing menopausal symptoms are able to get the support they need, when they need it. We are proud of our diverse community and want to enable colleagues to be successful in their roles regardless of the challenges the menopause may bring.
Our work is part of a broader programme of activity to create a menopause friendly workplace. This includes educating managers and colleagues; creating opportunities for peer support; and developing a culture where menopause is talked about openly and confidently and where our workplace environment is supportive of people living with menopause, so that we can all thrive at work.
As a line manager, you have a key role in creating an environment that will encourage those team members experiencing menopause symptoms to speak to you about it so you can support them to fulfil their potential.
The items in this toolkit have been designed to support you as a line manager.
These links provide information on how to reduce the impact of menopause symptoms to help you manage your menopause transition.
There’s a lot of menopause information, advice and support available from lots of sources. For illustrative purposes, we’ve listed a selection here but aren’t making recommendations about any of those listed or endorsing their advice or approach. Staff are recommended to do their own research.