his year, World Menopause Day is on Wednesday 18th October and is being celebrated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Menopause, and Menopause Mandate, with a breakfast reception to launch The APPG’s ‘Manifesto for Menopause’ featuring new research from the Menopause Mandate.
The average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, and this matters especially as women over 50 represent the fastest growing segment of the workforce, with a third of the working age population now over 50.
Indeed, 1 in 100 women experiencing menopause impact before the age of 40 with peri-menopause symptoms often during their 40s and some experiencing it mid-30s.
Although not all women experience effects which prevent them from working, research suggests those with serious menopausal symptoms take an average of 32 weeks of leave from work, whilst one in four women report they have considered leaving their job due to experiencing the menopause. Employers are being encouraged to better support women experiencing the menopause as the Government appoints England’s first ever Menopause Employment Champion.
Helen Tomlinson has been appointed new Menopause Employment Champion and calls on more employers to develop menopause policies and will work closely with Ministers at the Department for Work and Penions.
Helen’s role will include driving awareness of issues surrounding menopause and work while promoting the benefits for businesses and the economy when women are supported to stay in work and progress. Additionally, Helen will focus on encouraging employers to develop menopause policies to create more supportive environments to help women experiencing menopause to stay and progress in work.
Commenting, Paul Howell MP said:
“This #MenopauseAwarenessMonth, too many menopausal women are leaving the workforce due to the symptoms that they are experiencing and a lack of support.
Women over 50 represent the fastest growing sector of the workforce with many filling leadership roles at this age. But it is also an age where experience of menopause symptoms is more likely.
With 1 in 4 women admitting they have considered resigning due to a lack of workplace support, it’s time to take action so we don’t lose our women leaders.
Since Helen Tomlinson’s appointment as the Government’s Menopause Employment Champion in March, we have engaged with many businesses up and down the country and there are already fantastic examples of employers offering effective support for women experiencing menopause symptoms in the workplace.
Tesco, Lloyds Banking Group, West Ham United FC, Holland & Barrett, easyJet, Swansea City Football Club, HSBC, Boeing, Nestle, Premier Inn, Aviva UK, Rolls Royce, Balance App, Gower College Swansea and University of Derby are some of the employers leading the way and sharing best practice."
