It's All About People - 16th October

READ TIME - 4 minute read

On Sunday I had a great afternoon supporting Arsenal Women in their match against Brighton - and yes we won :-) For those of you who know me well, you’ll know I’ve been a huge supporter of women’s football since 2013, back in the days when women’s teams did not play at the “men’s stadium” and the crowd numbers were in the hundreds. We even paid £1 a ticket for the FA Cup final!

So to see a crowd of well over 27000 on Sunday and a hugely diverse crowd too in terms of gender, age and race was brilliant to see.

For several years now we have been delivering Menopause training for organisations in various sectors and organisations. I am always happy to share my story of early menopause due to radioactive medical treatment - and the huge impact it had on my mental health.

I share my story as I would hate anyone else to feel like I did - but sadly so many people do as there is a lack of awareness and a shockingly low level of support from employers.

This Saturday is World Menopause Day (18th October) — and this year’s theme is Lifestyle Medicine.

Before anyone rolls their eyes and assumes this is just about hot flush jokes and fan giveaways, let’s talk facts. Because menopause is not just a health topic — it’s a workplace issue.

🚨 The Reality

• 1 in 10 women have left their job due to menopause symptoms.

• 63% say their symptoms negatively impact their work.

• Almost 1 million women in the UK are thought to have exited the workforce early because they didn’t feel supported.

• Only 1 in 3 feel comfortable talking to their manager about it.

🎯 This Year’s Theme: Lifestyle Medicine

So what does that mean for employers?

Lifestyle Medicine focuses on evidence-based habits that support wellbeing — such as sleep, nutrition, movement, social connection and stress management.

Support doesn’t always mean policies and HR documents (although it does include those too). Sometimes it means enabling:

✅ Flexible breaks — because sleep disruption means mornings are harder
✅ Access to outdoor spaces — even a 10-minute walk can help regulate symptoms
✅ Team understanding — so someone can say “I need a moment” without embarrassment
✅ Wellbeing workshops — covering sleep hygiene, stress relief, diet & movement
✅ Peer support circles — safe spaces make all the difference

🫶 How to Mark World Menopause Day at Work

Here are a few simple ideas (that don’t involve awkward pink cupcakes):

• Start a conversation — Share a message from leadership acknowledging it

• Host a “Tea & Talk” session — A private room, an open chat, no pressure

• Offer a Menopause Checklist or Support Guide (check out our resources in the HR Hub)

• Train managers — The right response from one manager can keep someone in work

• Review uniforms, heating, shift rostering — Small tweaks = big relief

👋 Final Thought

Menopause isn’t a women’s issue. It’s a business issue, a retention issue, a culture issue — and ultimately, a leadership issue.

As you may have gathered this is a topic I am very passionate about, so we have plenty of resources for employers in the HR Hub - so get your free month here and download them all.

Supporting menopause doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to start.

Until next week…

Best wishes,
Emma

P.S. Resources in the Hub include: Menopause Policy, Business Case for Menopause Support, Dispelling Menopause Myths, Menopause and Exercise, Sharing Menopause experiences…and more. Why not try the HR Hub free for a month here.

Events to Join in the coming weeks

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🎥 Free Webinar- The Value of Values - — coming in December, the next in our series of free webinars. Click on the title to join the waiting list.

🎥 LinkedIn Live on Sexual Harassment Legislation and How to Be Complaint - Click on re-watch it.

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