NHS employees who are menopausal will be permitted to work from home if their symptoms need it.
Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive officer of NHS England, stated that ‘flexible working patterns, which may entail fewer responsibilities, will be considered for women experiencing symptoms.
Ms. Pritchard also asked other firms to adopt similar policies to assist menopausal women in “thriving” at work.
Employers are instructed to consider “any reasonable modifications to their working pattern” in the first-ever NHS guidance on menopause.
She argued in the Daily Telegraph that female employees who were “silently suffering” should not be expected to simply “grin and bear it.”
She stated, “Menopause is not a medical diagnosis; it is a period of life, and I want all women encountering this transition in the NHS to have access to the appropriate assistance to remain in the workforce and succeed.”
“Women approaching or experiencing menopause should not have to tolerate feeling uncomfortable at work or feel shame while discussing a natural life transition.”
The NHS is the largest employer of women in the United Kingdom, with one million of its 1,300,000 employees being female.
Ms. Pritchard stated that women aged 45 to 54 comprise one-fifth of the overall workforce in the health service.
She has also advocated for cooler clothing and fans for menopausal women at work.
Ms. Pritchard stated at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in Birmingham that she hoped the health sector would serve as a model for other employers as she introduced the menopausal guidance.
She asked all businesses to assist employees with symptoms like hot flashes.
‘While some local teams are already implementing initiatives to support women experiencing menopausal symptoms — simple steps such as flexible working, fans to help with more comfortable temperatures, cooler clothes, and staff training – I would like to see this across the board.’
Menopause happens when a woman stops having periods, at which point she can no longer naturally become pregnant.
The process, which is caused by the ovaries releasing less estrogen, is a normal aspect of aging that typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
Eight out of ten women will suffer menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, depression or anxiety, and memory issues.
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment option for the symptoms. It restores female hormone levels, providing relief to hundreds of thousands of women annually.
