Can we talk about the impact of the menopause on business?

Businesses have been shying away from this topic for our entire working career, but FINALLY talk around hormonal health in the workplace has hit the headlines. After discussing this with multiple women in the Coteam community, it is clear that we all have a responsibility to keep the conversation going.

In the UK, 14 million work days a year are lost due to menopause symptoms alone (HR Review, April 2019). Add to that, one in four people who experience menopausal symptoms consider leaving their job!  This results in a catastrophic loss of knowledge, experience, and talent from women at the peak of their career as the proportion of older women in the workforce is higher than ever before. If this wasn’t enough, the stigma (which is unfortunately still in existence), and a lack of workplace support, can have an incredibly negative impact on personal and professional lives. 

For the uninitiated, the menopause is not just about hot flushes and periods stopping. We’ve heard  stories of women feeling as if they are going mad and are unable to cope, yet 50% of women surveyed said that the menopause had been treated as a joke in their workplace (ICTU Survey 2018). Surely we can do better than that. 

Amongst many other symptoms; seriously disturbed sleep and severe mood swings (due to  changing levels of ovarian hormones) can have a serious impact on the working day of anyone suffering. 

Menopause does not just affect women in the typical 50-64 age bracket either; transgender women, those undergoing chemotherapy (which can cause early onset menopause), and perimenopausal women (in their 40s) often experience symptoms such as: 

• Loss of confidence

• Memory problems

• Panic attacks

• Chills

• Weight gain

• Anxiety and depression

• Weaker bones

• Vaginal dryness and a reduced sex drive

• Heart palpitations

Looking forward to all of that, then! 

So what can we do about it? 

As we’re working to drive an inclusive culture, raising awareness and overcoming any stigma is a good first step. Businesses with a diverse and inclusive workforce are also more innovative, make more money and have a considerably lower attrition rate.

There is also employment law to consider as there are consequences of not complying with essential legislation and best practice which can leave an employer wide open to grievances.

We’ve put together the Coteam 5-step practical guide:

Step 1: Raise awareness

• To raise awareness of menopause, why not hold a couple of virtual talks in your company? Here at Coteam, we’ve been busy working with our clients to create outcome-focused sessions led by our experts to help to reduce the stigma.

Step 2: Equip your people managers 

• Encourage managers and colleagues to offer a supportive, empathetic and non-judgemental ear to anyone suffering.  Every single person experiences the menopause differently so they should be encouraged not to assume that there is a ‘one size fits all’ approach. If someone’s performance is suffering then look at the root cause.

Step 3: Provide counselling

• A safe and confidential space to discuss day-to-day challenges is key. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy counselling is particularly helpful and is proven to have a lasting effect. Good examples of places to look for registered and accredited therapists are the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and The American Board of professional Psychology. 

Step 4: Offer workplace wellbeing programmes 

• For colleagues experiencing menopausal symptoms, knowing they have somewhere to go to receive specific and practical coping mechanisms for the working day will provide great relief. 

Step 5: Implement flexible working

• Most of us have now been forced to do this in the pandemic age but is there anything else you can do to support? For example, moving desks to provide a cooler spot in the office and allowing plenty of breaks and time off if necessary. 
  
  At Coteam we believe looking after the mental and physical health of your teams equals happy people who will steer your business to success.  We’re all about taking the natural approach and there are significant benefits to be had from yoga, meditation, a specific diet, and natural supplements. 

  “Stress can interfere with sex hormones. The more stressed we are, the more symptoms are exacerbated. Declining estrogen levels also negatively impact metabolism, leading to weight gain. A diet that regulates the body’s response to stress can make a huge difference to menopause symptoms.”
  Natalie McAdam Nutritional Therapist and Wellness Advisor (BA (Hons), Dip ION, MBANT) 

  
  The principles of Yoga are at the core of our values and the foundation for many of our workplace wellness programmes. Yoga is scientifically proven to relieve fatigue, strengthen joints, reduce pain, and assist with weight management.  Finally, meditation provides relief from hot flashes and brain fog and can also improve focus and concentration.

  The Coteam Women’s Wellbeing programme includes virtual consultations with one of our nutritional therapists, a tailored diet and supplement plan, weekly yoga classes designed to reduce blood pressure, irritability and mental tension, and meditation to bring renewed energy. Breath work for improved sleep and stress relief and a weekly check-in with our wellness coach is also included. 
  
  CONTACT US to find out more about this virtual and interactive programme.