South Lanarkshire Council gives green light to Menopause Policy

South Lanarkshire Council is to launch a policy to support women through the menopause and increase understanding about the issues menopausal women may face in the workplace.

The council’s Menopause Policy was given the green light by the Executive Committee at a recent meeting and will be launched and disseminated to all employees in due course.

It will ensure that all line managers have been trained to understand how the menopause can affect employees at work, enabling them to provide guidance and support to those affected and allowing adjustments to be made that may be necessary to provide that support.

It will also provide information to all women in the workplace on how they can find support for any issues that arise as a result of the menopause so that they feel they can raise issues about their symptoms and ask for any adjustments.

Additionally, it will promote guidance and information for those affected indirectly, such as colleagues and partners.

Councillor Collette Stevenson, Depute Chair of the council’s Finance and Corporate Resources Committee, said: “It is important not only to implement the actions of this policy, but also to make sure that women know that the council has a positive attitude towards the menopause and that it is not something they should feel embarrassed about discussing.

“I am therefore delighted that this Menopause Policy both ensures and demonstrates that South Lanarkshire Council understands the difficulties and anxieties that are faced by women at this stage of their lives and that these issues are managed effectively and sensitively by raising awareness and providing all appropriate training and development.”

Over 11,000 women work at South Lanarkshire Council. Its Menopause Policy has been developed in partnership with, and agreed with, the Joint Trade Union Executive and is consistent with all available guidance, including that from the NHS and STUC.

Meanwhile, an academic at the University of Leicester, which became the first university in the UK to introduce a menopause policy last year and launched menopause cafés in February, said men should mention the menopause openly to encourage more open conversations about the effects. The cafes are a place for staff to meet once a month  in an informal, social setting to allow men and women colleagues to discuss the menopause over a drink.

Visit workingwise.co.uk for more on the ageing workforce, age discrimination and menopause.