Women with menopause and associated symptoms are being penaliased says the National Education Union at its annual conference.
The UK’s largest teaching union will lobby for menopause training to be made mandatory for all school leaders as it argues that women with symptoms of menopause are being penalised for sickness absence and disciplined on grounds of competency with older women facing the greatest risk of “capability procedures”.
“Many of these women can function brilliantly with workplace adjustments but are unaware they can request them or are reticent to ask for fear of being judged.
Then we find these women in need of our support, in cases of absence management, capability and grievances about being passed over for a promotion. Too many women are leaving the profession or are going part-time … in an attempt to cope. This is unacceptable. It’s discriminatory.”
“Menopausal staff should be given appropriate flexibility, support, and adjustments – according to their needs – to remove or reduce disadvantages and allow them to work successfully. Employers should undertake a work environment assessment to make sure that the physical environment is not making symptoms worse.”
In addition to mandatory training for school leaders, delegates at last week’s conference also called for increased training for reps on workers’ rights around this issue in the workplace.
What’s clear is that with a workforce largely made up of women (over 75%), this is a significant issue for leaders and with existing challenges around recruitment and retention, how they address it will be crucial.
Introducing the Navigating Menopause in the Workplace Conference.
When: Wednesday 24th April 2024
Where: Virtually
