Menopause Support in the Workplace
7 October 2024
Empower women to stay in the jobs they love with a dedicated menopause support service! 8/10 menopausal women are in work, and we are responsible for providing the support they need. 10% of women leave work because of the menopause - before they’re financially, emotionally, or mentally ready. You can prevent the loss of talented women in your business by improving menopause awareness and providing support. Read on to discover how.
70% of women feel unsupported by their employer during menopause (HR Review).
The International Menopause Society (IMS) works tirelessly to improve menopause awareness, the debilitating impact it can have on women, and why we need to provide menopause support in the workplace.
More menopause awareness + effective menopause support = retention of top female talent.
Menopause is a change. A physical, mental, biological, emotional, lifestyle, and personal transition - the next phase of ageing. The female body goes through many changes during life, each requiring a period of adaptation, impacting emotional and mental wellbeing.
The transition into a new stage of life aside, the menopause impacts female physical health, and each year, the IMS uses October to bring them to life. For 2024, the theme is Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT).
The IMS advocates evidence-based treatment options that optimise mid-life women’s health and promote best practice in women’s health care.” IMS
Menopause Awareness… Because it isn't a lifestyle choice
Menopause is a ‘universal event’ usually occurring between the ages of 44 and 55 (NHS), and perimenopause (early menopause) can begin when a woman is in her thirties. The journey will be different for everyone; some women suffer more severe symptoms than others. We can’t prevent delay or cure it, but we can support and treat it.
The IMS has launched a whitepaper supporting this year’s campaign, addressing the key controversies surrounding menopause support and MHT. The report recognises the increasing attention the media gives towards menopause awareness is beneficial, but both media and academics give ‘polarised views’ on its management.
These contrasting views often leave women feeling confused and disempowered rather than supported through their menopause transition and susceptible to unproven marketed products.” IMS
Menopause Awareness… Giving Your Employees a Source of Truth
Misinformation is detrimental. When creating a menopause awareness strategy in your workplace, refer to a trusted source or pull in experts to provide menopause support.
Menopause Support… Empowering women to stay in the jobs they love!
We can agree that nobody benefits from remaining silent and that employees shouldn’t be left alone to find the best menopause support.
If menopause generally starts at 45 and ends at 55, some women may feel the effects of the menopause for up to ten years. For 10% of them, menopause ends their careers early.
This doesn’t have to happen.
EAP with Pluxee UK: Dedicated Menopause Support Counsellors
Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) includes a dedicated Menopause Support Service.
Did you know menopause has approximately forty symptoms that cause discomfort or embarrassment?
Our Menopause Mentors know this, and many of them have experienced it, which helps them provide tailored menopause support strategies.
There’s no better way to give women the confidence to speak honestly than by connecting them with someone who understands what they’re going through.
You can retain your talent, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity.
Available through our Employee Assistance Programme, with dedicated Menopause Support, you’ll give your employees access to:
- Accredited, menopause-specific counsellors and mentors.
- Corporate menopause awareness training for employees and managers.
- One-to-one menopause support and group sessions.
- Help to create a Menopause Network within your business.
Your employees can access our Menopause Support Service the same way they can reach any of our BACP-accredited counsellors - by phone, email or via our app, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the call requires the support of our Menopause Mentors, our EAP team creates a referral, and once accepted, a menopause mentor schedules the first appointment. From there, they'll create a menopause support plan unique to your employee’s requirements, ensuring they have all the help they need to thrive during menopause.
