Continuing the conversation & breaking the stigma
Today is World Menopause Day. A day to raise awareness, break the stigma and highlight the available support. You've heard us talking about menopause more than once since the last World Menopause Day in 2021. It's not something that last for just 24 hours like the awareness day itself. We’ve continued to work jointly with Lloyds Banking Group to help colleagues manage the menopause from start to finish and offer practical support and guidance to help many people through this major life transition.
In October 2021 Lloyds Banking Group launched improved menopause guidance – but our joint work didn’t stop there. In January 2022, Accord launched its own menopause activity month which included training for reps and our staff, an awareness webinar hosted with the Bank Workers Charity, and new guidance with sources of support and practical tips. We also launched our own network of menopause advocates who raise awareness and signpost to support across the UK.
This World Menopause Day, we're continuing the conversation.
Why we're talking about menopause
You don't have to be a woman or someone who has a menstrual cycle to be affected by menopause. Many of us will have colleagues we work with, people in our close family, or our friends who are experiencing the symptoms of menopause. When we think about menopause in a work context, there are around 4.4 million women aged 50+ who are in work, and around 13 million menopausal people in the UK - so it's an important conversation for us to have.
Here are some further statistics you may not know:
- Menopause symptoms vary from person to person
- 1 in 5 will have no symptoms
- 22% of women have spoken about menopause at work
- 1 in 3 will consider reducing hours or leaving work because of symptoms
- 75% of menopausal people felt they couldn't talk to their line manager about the real reasons for absence from work
- 1 in 100 will experience menopause before the age of 40
Replay our webinar
In January 2022 we hosted a joint awareness wellbeing webinar session with the Bank Workers Charity (BWC). The session looked at both the perimenopause (the transition into menopause) and the menopause.
During the session, Heena Kang from the BWC examined the silence that often surrounds the subject and provided guidance on where to get specialised support. We also looked at the astonishing impact of the menopause at work, and how some employers are becoming menopause friendly.
Cutting through all the information
As more people start talking about menopause, there's a danger that the wealth of information (and unfortunately sometimes misinformation) may become overwhelming and confusing.
This is the worry of the British Menopause Society, who will be launching a programme on World Menopause Day 2022. The promo video is accessible by selecting the image on the right.
Louise Minchin will be hosting a special programme today called ‘Menopause: Continuing the Conversation’ focused on cutting through the noise to give straight talking, clear guidance and advice from BMS menopause specialists, healthcare professionals and BMS members, with information from industry experts, providing support for people to recognise and improve their symptoms.
The British Menopause Society (BMS) is the specialist authority for menopause and post reproductive health in the UK. Established in 1989, the BMS educates, informs and guides healthcare professionals, working in both primary and secondary care, on menopause and all aspects of post reproductive health.
Resources and further support
- You'll find a wealth of support on the Bank Workers Charity menopause page
- Bupa has a range of information available on their menopause support page
- Menopause Support have a range of resources on their website
- Read menopause at work advice from Acas
- We teamed up with Menopause Support in January to run a menopause training session for our reps - watch the recording
- Check out our menopause guidance page for more information about menopause, the symptoms, and the policies and support in place for those affected by the menopause
- Download and share our 'Let's talk about menopause' leaflet and noticeboard poster
- Order a menopause pack for your workplace (leaflet, noticeboard poster, calling cards & tissues) by emailing [email protected]
- Get in touch with one of our menopause advocates for advice and support
Perimenopause: Interview with Lisa Earp
Lisa Earp, a 39-year-old senior bank manager, reflects on her experience of perimenopause and how she had to fight to get the right support.
Read this article
Menopause: Interview with Carol Knowles
Carol Knowles, 57-year-old PEC member and menopause advocate, talks about her menopause journey and the advice she'd give to others.
Read this article
Let's talk about menopause
Watch and share our 'Let's talk about menopause' video where we look at some of the common symptoms, how it’s impacting people in the workplace and highlight some of the support options available to members.
Play this video
Menopause: Case study with Laura Fisher
Laura Fisher, menopause advocate, talks about her menopause journey over the last nine years and the importance of normalising conversations.
Play this videoAccord's ED&I Group
The Accord Equality Diversity & Inclusion group’s aim is to maximise our members' potential, regardless of background, and ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. It’s a place where diversity is celebrated, without prejudice or judgement. It’s a chance to collectively learn from our experiences and enrich all our lives.
The group get involved in a broad spectrum of events across the year. If you’re interested, why not get involved — email us at [email protected] or register to join online.
