It is “essential” that nurses and colleagues experiencing the menopause are supported in the workplace and that open conversations on the subject are encouraged, the chief nursing officer for England has stressed.
Dame Ruth May has announced that NHS England has signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge, led by the charity Wellbeing of Women, to make sure staff “feel comfortable, confident and supported as they approach and experience the menopause”.
“While the menopause isn’t often talked about at work, it’s where people can find their symptoms most difficult to manage”
Ruth May and Janet Lindsay
By signing the pledge, which is backed by dozens of organisations across the UK, employers commit to recognising that the menopause can be an issue in the workplace and must actively offer support and information to employees affected. Employers must also talk “openly, positively and respectfully” about the menopause.
In a blog post on the news, written by Dame Ruth and chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, Janet Lindsay, the impact of menopause on staff retention was highlighted.
It pointed towards research which suggested “10% of women leave their jobs and many more are reducing their hours or passing up promotions” because of their menopausal symptoms.
Ruth May
“While the menopause isn’t often talked about at work, it’s where people can find their symptoms most difficult to manage,” it added.
“And with women making up around 75% of NHS staff, it is crucial that action is taken to support employees and encourage open and respectful conversations about the menopause.”
It warned that for “far too long” the menopause has been “shrouded in taboo, and as a consequence many women are left struggling with debilitating symptoms on their own”.
It was therefore “very important that the NHS takes action now in order to retain their extraordinary and committed staff”, said the blog.
Making workplaces more supportive around this issue would help employees’ wellbeing and “ensure an inclusive workforce”, it added.
In addition, it was vital that employees of “all ages and genders” are “well informed” about the menopause and the impact it can have on their colleagues.
Earlier this year, Jacqui McBurnie, chair of the NHS England and NHS Improvement Menopause Group and a nurse by background, warned of the “gap” in workplace support and awareness for health professionals managing symptoms of the menopause.
Confirming the news on social media site Twitter, Dame Ruth said ensuring nursing staff and colleagues are “supported at every stage of their career and through every chapter of their lives is crucial”.
In signing the pledge, she believed NHS England can make sure current and future generations of staff “feel comfortable, confident and supported as they approach and experience the menopause, with access to the right advice and support”.
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