‘Me, work and the menopause’ Usdaw launches a new campaign

Retail trade union Usdaw has today launched a new campaign about the menopause to raise awareness and seek better workplace rights, along with supporting improved health and well-being for women in mid-life and beyond. Many Usdaw reps are supporting members who are struggling with menopause symptoms at work. This campaign aims to help reps understand more about the menopause, how it affects women at work and what steps can be taken to make a difference to members in this situation.

Usdaw is clear that the menopause is an occupational health issue. For the majority of women the menopause will have an impact on their physical and mental well-being and the workplace can make these symptoms worse.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Women make up more than half of Usdaw’s members and activists and over half of the UK workforce. All of these women will inevitably experience the menopause at some point in their lives, and not necessarily in their late forties or early fifties.

“The menopause can affect younger women too and transgender and non-binary people. It’s far from a minority issue. Statistics show that around 1 in every 3 women has either experienced or is currently going through the menopause, with the majority experiencing noticeable symptoms. Of these, almost half experience symptoms they find hard to deal with and cause them difficulties both in and out of work.

“Despite a growing recognition among employers and policy makers of the menopause as a workplace health and safety issue, too few women are receiving the right support at work. Usdaw has developed this workplace campaign to enable more women to recognise and feel able to discuss their menopause symptoms in the workplace and equip reps with the tools they need to open up conversations about the menopause at work.”