A survey looking at awareness of the menopause in the workplace in Hull has shown more than two thirds of people are happy to talk about its symptoms.
The online survey was answered in workplaces across the city.
Questions centred on awareness of menopause symptoms, their impact and how people might support someone affected by them.
More than one in 10 people who responded to the survey were men.
The results showed 69 per cent try to be open to talk about the symptoms with colleagues.
Answers suggested most people were happy to approach their manager if menopause symptoms were causing an issue in the workplace- with just 25 per cent saying they could not.
Six in 10 people who responded had not taken time off work because of menopause symptoms.
And 30 per cent thought flexible working or working from another location including home would be helpful during the menopause.
Councillor Gwen Lunn, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for public health, said: “Around half of the workforce will personally experience the menopause. The other half will live or work with women who will, at some point, go through the menopause.
“This research will help us to understand the effects of the menopause on women, to raise awareness of the different symptoms that many women experience and to understand how local employers can better support their staff at work.
“This, in turn, will help local employers to create a more supportive working environment, enabling them to better manage and even reduce levels of potentially avoidable sickness absence due to the symptoms of the menopause.”
The results also showed:
- More than eight in 10 said they try to be understanding when they recognise symptoms in colleagues
- Six in 10 did not know if their employer had any guidance on supporting staff experiencing the menopause
- 37 per cent felt men also experience physical and psychological symptoms similar to those experienced by women
- Nine in 10 people are aware symptoms include hot flushes, with about four in 10 people asking to open windows at work and about one in three have used a fan to cope with symptoms.
- More than eight in 10 are aware they include brain fog and the inability to think clearly or remember thing
- Just 42 per cent know that those affected can experience eyesight changes and changes in eating patterns.
It is now hoped the results will be used to help form policy by Hull employers.
The survey was conducted on behalf of the Workforce Health and Wellbeing Forum, a partnership of organisations including the local authority. It was answered by 888 people. See the results here.
