Major Irish workplace changes as employers seek new rating to support menopause

IRISH employers are rated for the first time on their efforts to help female employees through menopause.

The groundbreaking Menopause-Friendly Workplaces Awards will honor organizations across Ireland that strive to support workers through the menopause.

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Menopause Hub CEO Loretta Dignam will lead a panel of experts, including former Dragons’ Den star Norah Casey, to evaluate participating employers across a variety of categories, including menopause awareness training and support services.

Introducing the awards, Loretta said menopause remains a taboo subject for many in Ireland and women suffer from it.

She said: “Not long ago in Ireland menopausal women were talked about in hushed tones, as if they were suffering from some kind of unspeakable condition.

“For far too long, the plight of menopausal women in this country has been swept under the carpet.

“Attitudes are slowly changing, but much more needs to be done.”

Loretta opened Ireland’s first clinic dedicated solely to treating menopausal women in Mount Merrion, South Co Dublin in 2019 after discovering first-hand the lack of help available when she was experiencing symptoms.

Research from her clinic, she said, showed that almost 40 per cent of women in Ireland during menopause and perimenopause were on the verge of giving up their careers due to the devastating effects of the symptoms.

She said: “When a woman enters menopause, she may notice several changes.

“She might experience brain fog or forgetfulness, fatigue, stress and anxiety, as well as hot flashes, vaginal problems and trouble sleeping.

“Menopausal symptoms can cause a person enormous difficulties at work and their ability to perform can be negatively impacted.

“Employers therefore risk losing highly qualified employees with many years of experience simply because these employees are female and they are undergoing changes due to hormonal changes.

“Fortunately, there is a growing number of organizations that are beginning to recognize the benefits of implementing menopause awareness programs to help employees overcome any difficulties they may be experiencing.

“Unfortunately, other organizations didn’t think so far ahead.”

SYMPTOM HELL

Ms Dignam said employers who have introduced menopause awareness training have seen improvements in absenteeism, employee retention and the number of women promoted to managerial positions.

She added, “Hopefully the Menopause-Friendly Workplace Awards will encourage more and more employers to take a critical look at their workplaces to see if they can do more to help female employees through menopause.”

The new awards are a partnership between The Menopause Hub and global workplace culture experts, Great Place to Work.

The jury also includes Denise Kennedy, Deputy Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture; Cathal Divilly, CEO of Great Place to Work; and dr Conor Harrity, Consultant Gynecologist at Beaumont and Rotunda Hospitals and Medical Director at Menopause Hub.

For more information on the Menopause-Friendly Workplace Awards and details on how to enter, email awards@menopausefriendly.ie.