Why is line manager training on menopause in the workplace so important?

The Fawcett Society’s Menopause and the Workplace report (2022) revealed that:

• One in ten women who worked during their menopause had left a job due to their symptoms

• Eight out of ten women said their employer hadn’t shared information, trained staff, or put in place a menopause policy

Employment tribunals citing menopause are on the rise - risks can be mitigated by ensuring all line managers are adequately trained (and are familiar with the relevant company policies).

A report from the CIPD published October 2023 indicated that having a supportive employer and a supportive line manager meant employees experienced less stress, took less time off work to manage symptoms, and performed better.

We provide training for people managers so that they can feel comfortable supporting any employee going through peri/menopause, understand how symptoms might impact on performance and wellbeing, what ‘reasonable adjustments’ can be made to help, and why it is so important to have that knowledge.

Our sessions for managers cover:

• Perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause - understand the difference

• How early can it start

• What are the symptoms - both well-known and more surprising

• How might this impact on your team members

• What kind of support and workplace ‘reasonable adjustments’ are helpful

• Why is it so important to understand and support menopause in the workplace

  (including legal framework in UK law)

Managing the Menopause can help you create a culture where colleagues feel safe and empowered to share their experiences.

Our clients say:

“I am not currently perimenopausal, but I am educating myself around the topic as obviously I may well go through many of the symptoms and experiences you have discussed. I'm still stunned by how little info young women are given around something that they will all go through, to a lesser or greater extent. However, I do have two women in my team who are perimenopausal - it's a topic we've talked about openly - but these tips are really super helpful. Thank you.”

We also have a self-directed online course for line managers that can be taken at any time.

Tackling the taboo and raising awareness can help you:

• retain skilled employees

• reduce absence rates

• improve engagement and productivity

• increase gender balance at senior levels of your organization

• attract the best talent.

The menopause is covered under the Equality Act 2010, and employers have a duty of care to raise awareness and understanding and educate their teams on menopause.

Employers should create clear policies and make them visible to all team members, create a safe space for team members to speak to their line managers and offer appropriate reasonable adjustments and support.

Research carried out by Opinium in 2021 showed that if a company offered menopause support employees would…

• feel more confident about menopause if working for this company (37%)

• feel more connected to the company (34%)

• stay with the company (29%)

• recommend this company to people they know who are looking for a job (29%)

Our line manager training can be delivered online or in person.

Can you afford not to train your line managers?