From crippling anxiety to anger to feeling compelled to advocate for others… Lynda Bailey, Founder of Making Menopause Work, tells her personal story of menopause awareness and how it moved her to start to campaign for more support in the workplace.
One of the comments I hear most often from women is this:
“My mum went through menopause without HRT or therapy. Why am I struggling so much?”
It’s usually followed by another thought that isn’t spoken quite so openly:
“Maybe I should just cope better.”
I don’t think that’s the right conclusion.
How menopause champions can shape culture one small action at a time
By Carly Cannings, The Happy Business School
Let’s be honest. When someone tells you you’re now a “menopause champion,” it can feel a bit like being handed a gift you weren’t quite sure you asked for.
Amy Ison, Therapies Lead at Birmingham Hospice (pictured right), shares her experience of being a younger manager managing menopausal staff, despite having no personal menopause experience herself. She explains what she learnt from embracing the challenge with curiosity and how creating space for open conversations, implementing practical adjustments and valuing lived experience make the difference.
By Dr Amy Pressland, Head of Talent and Performance, Benenden Health
At a time when UK employers are tackling skills shortages, rising recruitment costs, and renewed pressure on productivity, one of the most significant drivers of attrition remains largely underestimated: menopause‑related sleep disruption.
In case you’ve somehow missed the memo, all organisations with more than 250 employees will be required to have a Menopause Action Plan in place from spring 2027.
At Making Menopause Work, we believe it’s important to get the guys involved too.
Because menopause isn’t just a women’s issue. It affects everyone. In every workplace.
By Mel Wakeman MSc. RNutr(Sci), Registered Nutritionist
Walk into any high street health shop or scroll through your social media feed, and you’ll find a dizzying array of menopause supplements promising “relief” from hot flushes, joint “support” and help for anxiety, low energy and mood swings.
We’re on a mission to normalise menopause in the workplace. One conversation at a time.
Because we’re all about Making Menopause Work – for everyone. As part of that, we believe that better understanding and better support helps everyone feel better about themselves and about their interactions with colleagues.
All too often, it can be all gloom and doom when we’re having menopause conversations. Whether that’s in the workplace, within professional and support networks, or with family or friends.
So it’s important to shine a light on the positives of menopause too.
By Helen Tomlinson, Head of Inclusion and Employability
For decades, women’s health in the workplace was a topic shrouded in silence. Today, thanks to pioneering leaders and evolving policies, the conversation is changing.
By Caroline Jennings, Specialist Employment Barrister
If you are an employee and are struggling at work, do not be disheartened
Diane Danzebrink is living proof that personal adversity can be transformed into a powerful force for change. Today, she is widely recognised as a leading voice in the conversation around menopause and mental health, but her journey to becoming a campaigner, consultant, and educator began with her own life-changing experience.
By Lesley Waldron, Women’s Health Coach
The sandwich years refers to those years in which we can find ourselves caring for young families as well as elderly relatives. Being a carer for either age group can be intense. For those who find themselves dealing with both roles at once it can be especially challenging.
According to BSI research, 71% of women in the UK believe it would be helpful for organisations to have formal policies covering personal health and wellbeing issues such as menopause, menstruation, difficult pregnancies or miscarriage. Yet only 4% say they are aware of such policies in their own workplace.