One of my friends has become 'obsessed with the menopause' and she sent me a link to this feature on Get The Gloss. In a report, Dr Ros Altmann, a government campaigner for older workers says that 'women are forced out of jobs due to the menopause,' because this subject is still taboo and 'just not on the work radar... women get no support in the workplace.' Advising the government on how to keep over-50s in the workforce, the doctor mooted the idea of training for employers on how to manage the menopause but said she'd have to be brave because 'nobody ever wants to talk about it.'
I'm not quite sure how I feel about the idea of a Menopause Training Day; be good to reduce the stigma in an air-conditioned room with lots of iced water and empathetic colleagues - but who's going to tell our male workmates that they might want to sit this one out...
For more practical information, I found a blog post on The Menopause at Work on The Menopause Exchange site.
Well, I want fair treatment for all but I (long past menopause) preferred keeping my symptoms between me, my doc, and my ten best friends. At work, I cooled myself with lots of ice water and a fan.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Patti. I value recognition of the issue, but honestly, I appreciate having some boundaries around discussion of it. I'm not a prude and I can be very open about personal topics in certain, even many, situations. Nor did I mind that people knew I was menopausal -- I mean, it's obviously part of the package at the age I was/am and appear. But I wasn't keen on sharing symptoms (to be fair, mine were fairly mild, my hot flashes happening at night rather than during the day). Perhaps the need is greater in certain fields of work or types of workplace.
ReplyDeletePatti & Materfamilias - I know, can't help thinking it would be a bit like talking about periods in class...
ReplyDeleteYes! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnother one of those issues that I don't need to know much about...please let me know when we're back to great style...
ReplyDeleteGSL - on Facebook one of my followers suggested that this would have to cover the Manopause too, which apparently is particularly troublesome. So feel free to join in...
ReplyDeleteA difficult one - I want to talk about issues that affect us, I don't want to talk about the menopause in detail with anyone except my GP - much less for a whole day.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.....yes, well. Just between you and me and our ten best friends, I think that this need to have a 'conversation' about everything these days in a bit over rated. Some things are best kept to oneself, not because they're a secret, or it's too awful to discuss, but just because...well....jeez Louise...I want to retain a bit of dignity. And what ARE they going to discuss? Flushes and Flooding and How to Schedule them into your Day? Is it Hot in Here or is this Discussion just Embarrassment on a Stick? Really. Will the facilitator ask for a show of hands for who had to change their sweaty night dress more than once last night and who woke more than three times and whether it affects our work performance? I. Just. Don't. Know. Mimi :)
ReplyDeleteI think it would great to have some understanding from the boss, who is younger than me. No I am in it, I know why the older nurses were slower in movement and thought processes. I get fed up of being treated like an idiot by younger less experienced staff as I cannot quite grasp the word I want, my brain is more foggy and memory worse. But don't treat me like an imbecile. Maybe they should get training to realise why their staff nurse just punched them cos of their patronising manner! (joke)
ReplyDeleteI'm just confused by why it's "The Menopause" in the UK and "menopause," in the USA:). Kind of like freeways in California. It's Highway 101 in SF and The 101 in LA...
ReplyDeleteMenopause Training Day..hmmm. Well, as long as they also have PMS Training Day and How to Deal With a Vasectomy Training Day. Or am I being too flippant?
ReplyDeleteMimi - your comment really made me laugh. Completely agree about the 'Hey everyone look at me, I'm having a hot flush!'connotations
ReplyDeleteHer indoors - I hear you
Susan B - apparently they already have Menstrual Leave in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia - and Canada is 'discussing the idea. (see Daily Mail post I've linked to)
Just when I think I've heard everything! A definite thank you but no thank you!
ReplyDeleteSince I have hot flashes pretty much every hour, there is no way I can get through a workday with no one noticing. I might make a comment about hot flashes when I pull my fan out so they have some understanding of what's going on, but I don't dwell on it. I'm lucky I don't have to wear a synthetic uniform or jacket, or give speeches, or sit by a radiator. I wouldn't survive that!
ReplyDeleteMy doctor put me on 10mg of fluoxetine. Boom, no more hot flashes.
ReplyDelete