Menopause and the workplace

The 18th of October is World Menopause Day. The day where people around the world take a pause and talk about Menopause. The ups, the downs, and everything in-between. In fact, the whole month of October is World Menopause Month! 👏

Here at Shorts, we signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge in 2021. To show support to our employees and give them the confidence to talk freely. As Menopause is often a difficult topic to discuss, many people feel isolated and confused. We wanted to take a stand and help change this!

Unfortunately, according to a national survey conducted by Women's Health Concern, 33% of Women said that their Menopause affected their work life. A government survey about menopause symptoms showed that 72% felt less able to concentrate, 70% felt more stressed, and 34% felt the discomfort/ pain harmed their ability to work.

This could be a leading factor that has pushed women into lowering working hours, not putting themselves forward for promotions, or even quitting their jobs altogether.

It is crucial to have support available for women to ensure they feel valued, empowered, and happy at work. After understanding the barriers, adjustments can be made to ensure everybody will continue to thrive in their careers.

Here are a few changes that can help to make Women feel more supported and comfortable in the workplace:

Flexible working ( Including working hours, hybrid working, etc. )
Emotional/ wellbeing support
Ability to change room temperature
Changes to uniform/ clothing
Better or improved access to toilets
Create a culture that is free of prejudice

#PauseToTalk is a movement, started across many social sites to empower and educate everybody surrounding Menopause. A safe space to express your feelings, feeling less alone and more confident in yourself.

Apart from the negatives, many women are expressing the positives. Such as a sense of freedom and, greater resilience.

For any more information about World Menopause Day or Menopause visit International Menopause Society or the NHS website.