UK university introduces menopause policy to remove taboo

A leading UK university has launched a campaign to fight the stigma attached to menopause by encouraging its staff to talk about the middle-aged phenomena openly.

The drive, launched earlier this month at the University of Leicester, aim to create a model to destigmatize menopause at workplace.

We are taking steps to remove the taboo at Leicester by having more open conversations about menopause, Dr Andrea Davies, from the University of Leicester School of Business, said.

As part of the initiative, Davies recently launched monthly Menopause Cafes, where male and female colleagues are encouraged to come together and talk about the taboo subject.

Facts about menopause are not well known. Sharing information and creating awareness is the first key step for having confident conversations around menopause for everyone. We have also found that men are keen to know more to support their family and female colleagues, she said.

The catalyst for the initiative has been a UK government-commissioned report authored by a team from the University of Leicester School of Business.

It led to Leicester becoming the first university in the UK to have a menopause policy, under which it is working on a portfolio of projects at workplace - engaging with organizations and employers across Britain on the report's recommendations.

According to Davies, embedded in the policy is guidance for line managers and women to start confident conversations. Alongside is a menopause factsheet as well as a video.

Menopause transition is different for all women and a one-size-fits-all approach does not match what we know about menopause, she said.

Similar schemes have since been rolled out at the University of Manchester, Severn Trent Water company and Nottinghamshire Police, as employers look to support older female colleagues going through the biological transition.

According to the report, workplace symptoms for menopause, which occurs at the age of 51 on an average, include headaches, hot flushes, depression and excessive tiredness.

The UK Government's Equalities Office has recommended that employers provide desk fans to help menopausal women manage their symptoms. They should also provide cold water fountains, places to rest, special absence policies and ensure uniforms are made from non-synthetic materials.