Coping With Menopause At Work




The menopause is something all women experience. This refers to the stage in a woman’s life whereby she stops having periods and, therefore, is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Below, we are going to take a look at this in more detail, including what needs to be done at work.


When do women experience menopause?

Most women tend to experience it between the age of 45 and 55-years-old. Nevertheless, one in every 100 women experience premature menopause, i.e. they stop having periods before they turn 40-years-old. While seeing an obgyn specialist can help you to deal with the menopause, there is no denying that more needs to be done in society in general, especially in the workplace.


Some of the most common symptoms

While some women do not suffer badly during the menopause, there are those have severe symptoms, which have a significant impact on their life. Some of the most common symptoms include problems with concentration and memory, reduced sex drive, anxiety, low mood, difficulty sleeping, vaginal dryness, heavy and erratic periods, night sweats, and hot flushes. Some of these symptoms can make it extremely difficult for women in the workplace, making them feel uncomfortable and making it a challenge for them to go about their daily tasks. After all, there is nothing fun about experiencing a heavy period and a hot flush in the middle of an important presentation, is there?


Some work environments make the menopause even more difficult

Plus, some work environments make the menopause an even bigger nightmare! Imagine being an air hostess. Imagine experiencing a prolapse while going through the inflight safety demonstration. An then having to go through an entire 11-hour flight before being able to see a gynaecologist. Sheer torture, right?


Putting measures in place to make women more comfortable in the workplace

Workplaces are putting measures in place to make women more comfortable in the workplace. The first successful employment tribunal concerning the menopause was eight years ago. Nowadays, business owners need to make sure they develop an organisational culture whereby conversation is encouraged between female employees and managers about the menopause. Managers will benefit from training about the symptoms of menopause so that they can respond better to their female employees who are suffering.


Adjustments that can be made to the organisational environment

There are also adjustments that can be made to the organisational environment. The likes of lighter workwear, cold drinking water, and USB fans can help women that are suffering from hot flushes. Hot flushes, in particular, are a cause of concern for women, as they often feel self-conscious and like their professional image is being undermined.


Final words on making sure that workplaces consider the menopause and help women cope through it

As you can see, there is no denying that the menopause has a huge impact on women in the workplace. It is, therefore, pivotal that all business owners and managers take this into consideration and make an effort to make their female employees feel more comfortable.





No comments