Menopause Support Training for Managers

Menopause Support Training for Managers – why now?

There has never been a more important time for companies to get menopause support right.

In February 2024, The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued guidance to clarify the legal obligations that companies have, as a duty of care, to employees who are experiencing the menopause.

The EHRC confirmed that failing to make reasonable adjustments for staff amounts to disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 – if the symptoms have a “long-term and substantial impact” on a woman’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

To ensure that everyone can thrive at work, tackling the stigma around menopause and discussing it more widely is essential for staff and employers alike.

The Impact of Menopause on the Workplace

Did you know that neglecting women’s health at work could be costing the UK economy £20B+ annually? This is because:

52% of the UK workforce is female
1 in 10 women leave their careers due to menopause symptoms – equivalent to more than a million people in 2022
Global productivity losses from menopause amount to more than $150B a year
Around 14M working days a year in the UK are lost to menopause symptoms
99% of those who experienced menopause while employed said their symptoms had negatively impacted their work
59% had taken time off due to their symptoms, and 18% were off for more than 8 weeks
50% of these women resigned or took early retirement due to their symptoms

There are over 40 recognised symptoms of menopause, although through recent research experts have advised that the number is closer to 62.

Commonly known symptoms include:

Hot flushes
Poor concentration and memory
‘Brain fog’
Loss of confidence
Tiredness
Exhaustion
Feeling low or depressed
Being irritable
Anxiety

As a manager, it is very likely that certain members of your team will experience these symptoms – and more – at work. The impact of the menopause can be significant – both on their quality of life, and how they can perform in the workplace.

How can you help?

One in 10 women leave their careers due to menopause symptoms: equivalent to more than a million people in 2022.

Something has to change.

The workplace naturally brings expectations and pressures that, without the menopause, someone could comfortably cope with.

But for those who are experiencing menopause, what used to be a daily role can turn into a mountain of huge proportions. People feel that they have lost their edge, their motivation, and can develop real anxiousness about their ability to do their roles.

So many women pass up promotions, reduce their hours, or, as we’ve seen, leave their job entirely.

Having a supportive, informed manager can be a powerful catalyst for positive change.

This is where you come in.

What difference will a supportive manager make?

As a manager, you know the value of nurturing, training, and retaining talent.

At Hold the Space, we coach managers specifically through our courses, so you feel ready and equipped to support those who are navigating menopause.

This training programme is designed to give you the knowledge you need to better signpost support for menopausal people in your team or organisation.

Together, we create a collaborative learning environment where you can ask questions, get curious, and shape the conversation in your organisation about menopause.

This course is designed to provide managers with data-driven, fact-based, contemporary information. This means that you can confidently signpost resources, create a more welcoming workplace, and genuinely support and empower your staff.

Things we cover in The Menopause: Translated for Managers:

About the menopause: what it is, who it affects, and its impact on women
The long-term health risks of menopause
What menopause looks like at work
How to create a menopause-friendly workplace
How to talk about menopause
Suggestions for good practice around supporting those navigating menopause
How to best signpost the support on offer for employees
Policy and guidance, and so much more

Who could or should attend?

Any manager looking to best support their direct reports who are, or will be, experiencing menopause, should attend this course. This course is also valuable for those whose role is employee-focused, such as people managers, HR, and DEI leaders.

This course is equally important for C-suite executives or leaders who will be shaping company culture and the conversation around the menopause.

What now?

For the 51% of the population who will experience menopause and for the 49% who will indirectly experience it, the earlier that their manager can support them through this journey, the better.

We’d love to hear from you if you are considering bringing The Menopause: Translated for Managers to your organisation.

Get in touch using the details below for an exploratory chat to see how Hold the Space can help.

Contact

The Glenmorangie Co supports menopause in the workplace with Hold the Space Menopause Programme

Maria Rooney, HR Director, The Glenmorangie Co Ltd said:

‘We are dedicated to ensuring that we have the right support in place for our teams, and we were delighted to work with Tania from Hold the Space to do this…’

The University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School, first cohort of the ‘Keeping it Real Menopause Course’

Kirsteen Daly, Accreditations, Rankings, and Communications Manager of the Adam Smith Business School said:

’As an Athena SWAN Champion, it was important to facilitate the introduction of the “Keeping it Real Menopause Course” within the Adam Smith Business School. Completing this course has been so beneficial and enlightening in so many ways …’