How to have a good workplace conversation
Research tells us that some people can find it hard to talk to their manager about how menopause is affecting them. However, your manager is there to help you be your best at work.
To help you both, preparation is important. This will result in a much better conversation and outcome for both you and your employer.
For those supporting others, it can be helpful to encourage them to share with their manager how this is affecting them at work.
Here are 5 steps to support a good workplace conversation about menopause…
1. Prepare for your meeting
Check out what support is available in your organisation. Search your organisation’s intranet, or if there’s nothing there, talk to HR.
Keep a diary of your menopause symptoms and how they’re affecting you. Think about what practical, reasonable adjustments might help, being flexible and ideally coming up with some different options.
These might be for a short period of time while you work with your medical professional to alleviate your symptoms
2. Book a meeting
Booking a meeting means you’ll have the time and ideally a private office/online platform to talk and will be more likely to get your points across.
3. Explain your situation clearly
Talk about how menopause is affecting you at work, what you’re doing to manage your menopause and what your line manager can do to help.
Discuss what support you would like e.g., reasonable adjustments and timescales. Or sometimes, just knowing that someone understands and is there to listen can help.
Agree with your manager what you can both do. They may need some time to think about the best support.
Remember, this may have been on your mind for a long time, but it may be the first time your manager has heard about it. Allow them time to digest the information and seek advice if necessary.
4. Do you want your conversation to be confidential?
Some of us are happy talking about menopause openly, others are not.
Talk to your line manager about whether you want the conversation to be kept confidential or if you’re happy to discuss it with colleagues. It’s your choice.
5. Follow up
At the end of the meeting, put time in the diary to meet again, whether it’s to agree a way forward, to monitor progress or update.
Menopause symptoms can change over time.
