Menopause


A recent survey by Wales TUC pointed out that a conservative estimate of the number of women in the Welsh workforce going through the menopause at any one time is at least 216,000. And in a survey of almost 4,000 respondents (the vast majority of them women), around 85% thought that the menopause affects working life, but less than 1% said that there was a menopause policy in their workplace.


The menopause is part of the natural ageing process for women and usually occurs between the ages of 45-55. It begins when menstruation has ceased for 12 consecutive months and can include hot flushes, palpitations, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, mood disturbances, skin irritation and dryness – although it affects individual women differently.


The menopause: a workplace issue, a report of a Wales TUC survey investigating the menopause and the workplace in Wales, says that employers who employ such women should consider the specific risks for them in their risk assessments (see Chapter 2). They should ensure that the working environment will not make their symptoms worse by considering temperature and ventilation as well as access to decent toilet facilities and cold water.


A high proportion of women in the survey reported that temperature and ventilation control measures in their workplace are inadequate and that simple measures, such as providing fans, would be helpful. They also advocated greater control of heating and air conditioning systems, access to fresh air and the option of sitting near a window. Access to well-maintained toilets and washroom facilities should be a basic and fundamental requirement, yet some workers reported difficulties.