Maybe you've heard the headlines:
By 2025, 1 billion women will have reached menopause.
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40% of women say that new health concerns
have impacted their work performance and productivity.
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1-in-5 women have considered quitting.
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This is not {only} about menopause.
Speaking of Menopause:
At Work Edition
December 5, 2024
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Hi I'm Shirley!
Founder of Menopause Chicks
While the headlines imply women are leaving the workforce "due to menopause," I'm here to tell you that's not {entirely} true. {After all, menopause is one day on the calendar marking the end of ovulation.}
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Some women are leaving (or considering leaving, or wishing they could quit) because they are dog-tired.
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We are standing at an incredible window of opportunity to prioritize women's midlife health in the workplace...for the 20% who are at the end of their ropes and wish they could quit. AND, for the 80% who are not quitting, but do not feel their health needs are being met.
We already know that burnout is not good business. Neither is having employees who are burned out--and calling it "menopause."
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I promise you: by the time hormone changes, sleep disruption and other changes impact a woman's performance and productivity at work (and your bottom line!), she has already tried to navigate it (often, unsuccessfully) on her own!
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Women are still responsible for the majority of unpaid and invisible work at home. They are most often the "chief health officer" for the family. It is likely she has felt disappointed by her last doctor visit (if she has a family doctor!) Over half of women in Canada do feel dismissed or disappointed--especially if the reason for their doctor visit was related to menstruation or menopause.
And the statistics for being dismissed by health professionals are significantly higher for Indigenous women and women of colour.
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She may have also felt discouraged if her health benefits limited which practitioner she could see, or which therapy or treatment she could choose.
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So what is the missing piece?
The huge gap between how women are feeling...and all employees everywhere having access to easy-to-understand health information is this:
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QUALITY, evidence-based health information & education
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"Script Tips" for how to have more confident, informed conversations with health professionals
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A giant reminder that all women deserve to FEEL AMAZING at every age & stage... while continuing to do the work they love.
Some Employee Groups Shirley has worked with
Speaking of Menopause:
The At Work Edition
October 30 or November 6
We know you are thinking about HOW to bring quality menopause education & conversations to your workplace. The answer is this: start.
I am dedicated the month of June to "Speaking of Menopause: At Work" and supporting your team and workplace wellness culture. (We hosted these events last October and the response has been phenomenal!) You told us you are acutely aware of the need for this education--but that wanting to do what's best for your team, and wanting to it correctly out of the gate...it's all too overwhelming.
That's why our approach to women's workplace wellness & menopause education does not include awkwardly sitting around a lunch or boardroom table (unless you want to!) Those situations can be conversation-limiting when we are trying to learn new, important & intimate details about our health.
June 6th, 13th & 20th are about starting the conversation; giving you & your employees an accurate, easy-to-understand summary of what they need to know + the opportunity to attend anonymously, ask questions privately, and then empowering them to make the health decisions that are right for them!
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And importantly--this is your opportunity to enhance your employment brand by acknowledging women's midlife health, addressing this important, un-met need, and reminding your employees (and their families) that you have their backs.
This is an all-gender event.
Appropriate for employees at all levels of your organization.
Three LIVE sessions to choose from. [Replays available too.]
Led by menopause expert & women's health advocate, Shirley Weir.
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We're not going to lie. Things are a bit of a mess right now.
The headline "1-in-5 are considering quitting," means a HUGE cost to you and your bottomline. But, what we must also consider is the 4-in-5 who can NOT quit, meaning an even bigger loss when considering increases to "presenteeism" ...and decreases to employee health!
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We are concerned about some of the messaging and vernacular surrounding the menopause-at-work challenge (or opportunity, as we like to frame it!) You see, some experts are suggesting employees simply need temperature-controlled rooms and fans at their workstations. Others are writing "menopause policies" and creating a divisive work culture where the good intention of bringing "menopause education in the workplace" is resulting in alienation and age discrimination of women, and perpetuating outdated stereotypes...all because too many leaders don't yet understand what they don't understand.
Oh! Do you want to hear the most recent example? One company is planning to visit executive offices with a "hot flash simulator" jacket for men to experience what a hot flash feels like.​ It's getting ridiculous.
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This is not what women need.
This is not what your employment brand needs.
