Labour Mp Visiting Islands in Workplace Menopause Campaign

First published in Bailiwick Express

A leading voice on menopause support will speak in Guernsey and Jersey next month.

The visits from Carolyn Harris, the Labour MP for Swansea East, have been arranged by Walkers and Kleinwort Hambros.

Ms Harris led a successful campaign which persuaded the UK government to confirm that changes will be made to reduce the cost of hormone replacement therapy prescriptions and to establish a new menopause taskforce.

The taskforce, which Ms Harris will co-chair, will consider the role that education, training, workplace policies and peer groups can play in supporting individuals through what can be a mentally and physically challenging time.

At the events on Thursday 5 May and Friday 6 May, Ms Harris will talk about why she is so passionate about the menopause and improving education around it.

Ms Harris will then join a panel with Walkers Group Partner Sarah Ash, Walkers Senior Counsel Daniel Read, Vitality40Plus Founder Trudi Roscouet, Focus HR Head of Jersey Helen Myers and Kleinwort Hambros Chief Executive Officer Phil McIlwraith.

The panel will discuss the impact that the menopause can have in the workplace and how businesses can support their staff.

Ms Ash said: "The menopause affects all women at some point in their lives - and increasingly, employers are becoming aware of its impact on their workforces and their obligations to their people.

“It’s time for the conversation about the menopause, its impact, and steps employers can take to mitigate it and support their employees, to become much louder."

Ms Ash continued: "We are delighted to be able to help the conversation across the Channel Islands become more prominent and raise more awareness of this topic by bringing Carolyn to Guernsey and Jersey this May."

Mr Read said that women over 50 are now the fastest growing demographic in the workplace.

“As women typically tend to be affected by the menopause between the ages of 45 and 60, an increasing number of employees are going to be experiencing menopausal symptoms during their careers,” he said.

"Consequently, employers need to ensure that they are well informed and able to support their employees. If your organisation has not yet started this conversation, we would recommend that you put the menopause on your agenda and start this conversation as we do not expect the focus on this topic to change in the coming months and the volume around it will inevitably get louder."

Mr McIlwraith added: "By talking about the once taboo subject of menopause, we are raising awareness and to better educate ourselves as employers to provide a greater understanding on the effects of menopause.”