October is Menopause Awareness Month. Did you know that…
- The over 50s are the fastest growing group in the UK’s workforce
- The average age for the menopause transition is 51, but it can start before the age of 40
- One in five of people who menstruate end up leaving work before retirement age because of symptoms of menopause
That is why we are proud and excited to announce that we are launching a new global menopause policy.
Anxiety, depression, irritability, brain fog and sleep deprivation are just some of the symptoms associated with menopause. Symptoms can be personal and sometimes embarrassing, so therefore can be hard to talk about. Many people struggle to manage the psychological and physiological symptoms of hormone-related changes and often feel their confidence is impacted as a result.
We want to normalise conversations about menopause, making it easier to talk about symptoms, how they impact us and in particular, how they can impact our work life.
The new Menopause Policy applies to all William Hill colleagues globally and is for anyone going through menopause, perimenopause or the male menopause. We recognise that the menopause can affect people at different stages of life and may also affect trans and non-binary colleagues. The policy is designed to signpost colleagues to the help that is available and outline how the company can support people impacted by the menopause or menopause related symptoms. More than that, we hope that by having the policy in place, it will open up conversations and make it easier to talk about.
Mark Skinner, Chief People Officer said "We all have mothers, sisters, partners, wives, friends, and colleagues that will experience menopause. Menopause is no longer a taboo topic where women must suffer in silence, and I am proud that we can stand with them and give them the support they need."
Over the coming weeks we will be holding some menopause events for our colleagues, to help start the conversation.
