โDonโt write off menopausal women who have left the workplaceโ
The importance of recognising the need to welcome menopausal women back to the workplace is marked on World Menopause Day, which this year was celebrated on October 18th. We hear from a leading menopause in the workplace expert, Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, who is calling on employers to open their doors to welcome back people wishing to return to work…
Deborah started training, educating and supporting employers back in 2016 when no menopause policy in the land existed yet and menopause friendly workplaces were in their infancy.
Roll forward eight years and today the landscape is very different. Over 120 UK businesses have achieved the Menopause Friendly Accreditation proving their workplace is both welcoming and supportive of people working through their menopause. Which is why now is the perfect time for those who want to return to work to make their move.
Menopausal women are people not statistics
Pretty much every news piece we read on this topic cites the Fawcett Society research which tells us that one in 10 women leave work during their menopause. We see this statistic a lot โ but do we ever see the people behind the statistic? The individuals who left work because of their menopause symptoms. Where are they now?ย More importantly, if they found an understanding employer, would they want to return to work?
Leaving work during menopause isnโt easy โ people may have children at home and caring responsibilities. Many may be forced to dip into their savings or draw down their pension earlier than planned. Their future financial security is suddenly undermined.
Quite apart from the financial hit of leaving work before retirement age, it can also strike a huge personal blow. โWorking is about more than just money โ it gives us a sense of purpose, a routine and structure to our day,โ says Deborah. โIt boosts our self-esteem and confidence and encourages social interaction. To compound the problem, the very symptoms that make people leave work – typically fatigue, loss of confidence, difficulty concentrating, physical discomfort and low self-esteem – make it doubly hard for them to return.โ
Let’s welcome menopausal women back to the workplace
Not everyone wants to get back to work, but for those who DO there is a safe new route through the Revive & Thrive programme developed by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and The People Portfolio, experts in returner programmes.
Connecting Menopause Friendly Accredited employers with individuals looking to re-enter the workforce, Revive & Thrive reassures people that their new employer is trained and committed to supporting their return.
โMany women who leave work early are highly skilled and experienced but menopause knocked their confidence and damaged their self-esteem.ย Given the right level of support, they can thrive in the workplace while plugging the talent gap,โ says Deborah.
โBeing menopause friendly isnโt just about retaining valuable staff, itโs also about welcoming back highly skilled and experienced individuals from a career break,โ reminds Deborah. โMenopause Friendly Accredited organisations opening their doors to returners, will be a game changer.โ
