Managers should take responsibility for their menopausal female staff

Many people do not realise the severity of the menopause but it is actually a wide spread issue, with 3.5m working women affected.

TUC believes that employers must do more to support these women.

The guidelines have been drawn up by union safety and health reps and has also been backed by research released by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF).

The main message that TUC are trying to give is that women of menopausal age should be provided with extra support during the stages of menopause.

The guidelines aim to help raise the profile of the issue and encourage employers to support their female employees.

Some of the symptoms that a menopausal woman may experience include:

• Hot flushes
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Sweating
• Anxiety attacks
• An increase in stress levels.

TUC also explains that high workplace temperatures, poor ventilation, poor or non-existent rest and toilet facilities and lack of access to cold drinking water at work can make all of these symptoms worse, says the TUC.

During TUC’s research, they found that female stuff members often complained that they feel their managers do not recognise menopausal symtoms and some women even spoke of being ridiculed for their serious health problem.

TUC believe that managers should take responsibility for their menopausal female staff, and that women should be provided with support during, what is for many, a difficult time.

Brendan Barber, TUC’s general secretary, said, ‘We welcome the research published by BOHRF. Despite the increasingly large number of older women in employment, menopause is rarely seen as a workplace issue.’

Further information is available for both employers and employees on TUC’s website, visit www.tuc.org.uk

By Nora Stankewitz