Today (18 October), to coincide with World Menopause Day, Golden Lane Housing (GLH) has launched a new policy and champions scheme to support staff affected by the menopause.

The menopause policy offers information on what the menopause is and what the symptoms of it are, and how GLH can offer practical and emotional support to staff going through it, and advice to those who want to support their colleagues.

Three GLH Menopause Champions are now available to offer guidance to colleagues around the policy, to signpost colleagues to appropriate support services and organisations, and to listen to and talk to anybody who is or has been affected by the menopause. The champions are also qualified Mental Health First Aiders.

A presentation was given to all staff members by the new Menopause Champions on what the policy is, why it’s important and how the champions can help their colleagues.

Adele Currie, head of people and culture at GLH, said: “Ten per cent of women leave work due to menopause.* The fact that people are having to leave behind their careers because of a natural part of their lives is shocking and proves that as a society, we need to be better at talking about health and wellbeing, particularly in relation to reproductive health. At GLH, we want our colleagues who are reaching or going through the menopause to feel supported and able to continue to thrive in their roles.”

John Verge, chief executive at GLH, said: “We are proud to have put in place a menopause policy and champions scheme at GLH. They have been implemented for all of our colleagues to access should they need to. There is advice and information for those who are going through the menopause, and for colleagues who want to support them. We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, at all stages of their lives.”

*Statistic from The Menopause Charity – https://www.themenopausecharity.org/