First authority organizes menopause workshop

Empowering Women in Transition: Munich's Menopause Awareness Initiative

Stepping into the limelight, Munich's district administration department (KVR) offered a menopause awareness workshop, underscoring its impact on women's personal and professional lives.

Why This Matters?

Menopause transforms a woman's life, affecting various aspects from energy levels to emotions, and it's crucial to address it. In Germany, 9 million women navigate this phase, and Essity predicts a 2025 global tally of nearly 1 billion menopausal women. Shockingly, men can feel implications too.

The Unspoken Challenge

Despite its prevalence, menopause remains a hidden issue in professional settings. A KVR analysis revealed that over half of surveyed women reported symptoms like exhaustion, sleep disturbances, irritability, or hot flushes. Regrettably, their employers often fail to provide adequate support. The result? Decreased concentration, escalating stress, and sometimes missed career opportunities. Almost half of them took time off work due to these symptoms.

Hanna Sammüller-Gradl, the Green Party leader at KVR, spearheads change. Her mission? To enlighten managers and employees about menopause, breaking the stigma and fostering inclusivity.

The Landscape of Menopause

The Call to Action

To encourage a more supportive work environment for menopausal women, companies can adopt strategies like implementing flexible policies, promoting education, establishing inclusive spaces, empowering advocates, establishing a menopause action plan, and breaking the taboo surrounding menopause.

Create a More Supportive Workspace

1. Flexible Policies
2. Menstrual leave or remote work opportunities during challenging health periods.
3. Education and Awareness
4. Train leaders and managers about menopause and its effects.
5. Inclusive Spaces
6. Establish wellness rooms and supportive cultures.
7. Empower Advocates
8. Appoint "champions" responsible for fostering open dialogue and sharing resources.
9. Menopause Action Plan
10. Adopt flexible working arrangements, health benefits, and environmental adjustments.
11. Break the Taboo
12. Promote awareness through workplace training, campaigns, and open discussions.

A Globally Recognized Challenge

Menopause isn't just a personal dilemma, but a challenge for communities, healthcare, and social norms. By 2025, over a billion women are expected to confront this phase. It's time to turn the spotlight on supporting these women and ensuring they can thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Sources:

1. NHS Employers
2. Women and Equalities Committee
3. General Best Practices

Why isn't KVR mentioned in the provided sources? Despite lacking explicit mention, the strategies introduced here can still create a supportive environment for menopausal women in the workplace. By implementing these recommendations, businesses can empower their employees facing menopausal symptoms.