A mental health charity has urged Bury businesses to sign-up for free menopause awareness workshops to "break the stigma".

Greater Manchester Mind is offering free "supporting employees through the menopause" workshops to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bury with fewer than 250 employers.

The workshops are aim to help businesses navigate the impact of the menopause in the workplace and raise awareness of the condition among colleagues and managers.

Workshops are led by expert trainers and cover how the menopause affects work and wellbeing and how staff going through the Menopause can be aided with their work.

Mind says the workshops are ideal for HR, managers and interested employees, and help power attendees to make workplaces more supportive.

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Sophie Johns, project manager for the project in Tameside, Oldham and Glossop, said the training intends to give managers and business owners “a heads-up” about menopausal symptoms.

She said: “ This knowledge helps managers create a work environment that supports employees through flexible schedules or other helpful approaches.

“Its being about being supportive to staff so everybody feels included and the menopause isn’t a taboo word.

“It’s also a great move for the company, by acknowledging and accommodating the needs of those experiencing menopause, this in turn will help create happier employees, boost productivity, retention and overall moral.”

NHS England says 13 million people in the workplace in the UK are either menopausal or perimenopausal - around a third of the entire UK female population.

A 2019 study by BUPA found that 900,000 women in the UK had left their jobs because of menopausal symptoms.

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Mind says that those experiencing menopause symptoms often encounter a lack of understanding and support in the workplace, and symptoms such as memory lapse, hot flushes, anxiety and fatigue can impact on job performance.

Sophie added: “Addressing these challenges is crucial for creating a workplace where individuals feel comfortable discussing their needs and accessing the support they require to navigate this life stage while maintaining their professional responsibilities.”

Businesses can find out more about the project on Mind's dedicated webpage. 

An overview of the course can be found here.