A new survey from Acas has found that a third of employers (33%) do not feel well equipped to support women going through the menopause.
Most women go through the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 but it can also happen earlier or later in life. Symptoms can last 4 years or longer and can include hot flushes, anxiety, and memory and concentration problems.
Acas commissioned YouGov to ask British businesses about how well equipped they feel in supporting women going through the menopause at their workplace.
The poll found that:
- a third of employers (33%) do not feel well equipped
- 46% feel well equipped
- 1 in 5 (21%) do not know
Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said:
"There is still a stigma attached to the menopause and our findings show that some employers do not feel well equipped to support women that are going through it.
"Our poll also reveals that there is a lack of confidence around whether some managers have the skills to support staff that are experiencing menopause symptoms.
"Creating a safe place at work to talk about it can help. Acas has advice for employers on how best to support employees impacted by the menopause and keep within the law."
The menopause affects half of the population which includes women as well as others that have a menstrual cycle such as some trans men and people who identify as non-binary. It can also impact relatives, partners or people that are supporting someone going through the menopause.
The Acas poll also asked businesses how confident they feel that managers in their organisation have the necessary skills to support staff with menopause symptoms.
The poll revealed that:
- over a third of employers (37%) are not confident
- over 2 in 5 (46%) are confident
- 17% do not know
Acas advice is that menopause is a health and wellbeing concern for staff and needs to be handled sensitively. Employers that create and support an open environment around the menopause can help affected staff to continue to do their job confidently and effectively.
Acas's advice for employers includes:
- develop a menopause policy that explains how the menopause can affect people differently and what support is available
- provide awareness training for managers on the menopause and how to deal with it sensitively and fairly
- consider making practical changes at work to help staff manage their symptoms such as the availability of cold drinking water and temperature control
Read Acas's advice on menopause at work
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Background notes
1. Acas commissioned YouGov to poll senior decision makers in a representative sample of British businesses. The survey was carried out online and the total sample size was 1007 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20 and 28 September 2022. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc and have been weighted and are representative of British business size.
2. Participants were asked 'How well equipped do you feel you are to support women going through the menopause at your workplace?'
The results were:
- 14% very well equipped
- 32% fairly well equipped
- 21% not that well equipped
- 12% not at all equipped
- 21% do not know
Participants were also asked 'How confident do you feel that managers in your organisation have the necessary skills to support staff experiencing menopause symptoms?'
The results were:
- 15% very confident
- 31% fairly confident
- 21% not very confident
- 16% not at all confident
- 17% do not know