TEMPERATURES RISE AS BUSINESSES TACKLE THE MENOPAUSE AT WORK

How should employers treat menopausal women in the workplace?

This, and other questions, will be addressed and debated on the first day of the world’s only Menopause Festival, taking place in Perth in April 2019.

With the first day of the event aimed at Human Resources professionals, line managers , trade unions and employment lawyers, the ‘Menopause at Work’ seminar will explore the rights of women and their employers’ obligations, menopause policies and how the menopause impacts on women’s economic participation at a national level.

The festival, now in its second year, will take place at Perth Theatre on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April 2019 and will be officially opened by Christine McKelvie MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Older People and Equalities.

One of the speakers on Friday 26 April is Kate Wyatt, Employment law Partner with law firm Lindsays.

Kate said, “Many of us are accustomed to reading or hearing about the menopause in women’s magazines, health supplements and lifestyle programmes but there’s very little talk of it in business circles.

“In years gone by, it’s not a subject which people have been comfortable speaking about but that is changing so that mindset shift has to filter through to the workplace too.

“I will be highlighting best practice, explaining what employers need to be doing and highlighting the huge strides which society has made in terms of women’s participation in the workplace. It’s not just about supporting women while they bring up their children anymore, but also supporting them in the later stages, ensuring that steps are in place to retain women at work to the mutual benefit of both the employer and employee.”

Kate will be joined by fellow speakers Dr Andrea Davies of the University of Leicester, author of the Government report on how menopause impacts on women’s economic participation; Collette Stevenson of South Lanarkshire Council who will talk about their menopause policy; and Karen Wright and a Trade Union representative from NHS Velindre Wales. There will also be group discussions, sharing good practice, and a panel discussion relating to issues raised.

The following day, Saturday 27 April 2019, will welcome members of the public, both men and women, to celebrate menopause. Keynote speaker Kelli Jaecks, author of ‘Martinis & Menopause: strategies, science and sips that empower women to beat the Hormone Groan’, is travelling from Oregan, USA to speak about ‘the fantastic four’, exercise, diet, sleep and HRT. Meanwhile, Dr Laura Jarvis from Tayside Menopause Clinic will speak on medical aspects of the menopause. There will also be a number of stalls and workshops on everything from creative writing and art to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, nutrition and exercise. Evening entertainment is also on offer, with comedy from ‘Gusset Grippers’ and, of course, the chance to mingle, eat and drink!

Sponsored by Rowan Consultancy in Perth, the festival is open to all genders and all ages and follows on from the World’s very first Menopause Café, which took place in Perth in 2017. Menopause Café has gone on to become a registered charity with respected Scottish broadcaster Kirsty Wark as Patron.

Rachel Weiss, Partner at Rowan Consultancy said, “The menopause affects each and every woman around the world and huge strides have been made since we started encouraging more debate with our very first Menopause Café back in 2017. However, more needs to be done.

“We are therefore delighted to be bringing the second Menopause Festival to Perth which takes these discussion to the next level. This year, as well as inviting the wider public, we have a dedicated Menopause at Work seminar which will air and clarify some of the issues surrounding menopause at work, and helping employers put the appropriate policies and procedures in place.”

The Menopause Festival 2019 is delivered in partnership with Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation behind Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre, and funded by Perth and Kinross Council and Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust.

To attend, visit https://www.horsecross.co.uk/festivals/menopause-festival-2019.

For more information, visit www.menopausecafe.net.

TEMPERATURES RISE AS BUSINESSES TACKLE THE MENOPAUSE AT WORK

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