Channel 4 menopause policy

It will all depend on business need as other policies do at the moment - so it’s not a legal requirement but more a ‘this is what we can offer in the way of reasonable adjustments when possible’ approach. It’s about saying that we recognise the specific challenges faced by women at this time and we’ll try and support our employees as best as we can, because we value the many years experience that women of this age bring to the organisation.

I can only see it as a positive.

I'm one of the lucky ones who wasn't much affected by the menopause, however I have always struggled with overheating and sweat profusely in warm weather never mind how I suffer in a heatwave. It isn't life treatening I agree, but can be very debilitating and difficult to cope with, so I guess people with severe menopausal symptoms suffer similarly. When I am embarrassed about my condition I now say "I blame it on age and hormones" despite knowing I've suffered like it most of my life but I feel better being able to attribute it to something. In my youth I just said "I've always had a dodgy thermostat!" I've always had to struggle through it and take the rude remarks I occasionally suffer.
The trouble with having policies like this is that there will always be some who take advantage when they are not badly affected while others will work through whatever difficulties they face. Where will the line be drawn?
Working in a school I cannot be given a cool quiet place to work. If I open the windows in a classroom as I'm too hot there will always be at least one student who complains that they are then too cold despite the fact that they have chosen to remove their blazer/jumper, while I can't remove anything more without causing a major uproar!
Consequently I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't know if people will require a doctor's note but if they do I guess it will depend how sympathetic their doctor is.

So..if employers are already required to make reasonable adjustments for employees with health conditions, why does there have to an additional consideration for menopause-related issues?

If your health is that bad, you'd be covered anyway,?

There’s nothing in policies to support women suffering from menopausal related issues that says that your menopause is a matter of company policy that has to be shared. These policies are simply there to support women with reasonable adjustments if required and in line with business need - that sounds like both common sense and a step forward to me.

Well I am employer and aged 58 so well know what the menopause is like - soon, what with the maternity rights, the fact that if the millennials I employ sneeze in the morning they call in sick, the fact everything now is turned into a disability, that stress and anxiety seems to affect everyone under 35 and now a possible ten year menopause period where we have to give time off - I soon won’t have anyone actually in work to keep the business going. My generation won’t have time off as we are made of tough stuff and just brought up to keep going which is why I am in the position I am but the younger ones coming through will take every advantage of this. I think it’s ridiculous!

I would greatly have resented my menstrual cycle or its termination being made a matter of company policy.

I have always regarded the details of female physiology as entire my affair and no business of anyone else.

Obviously, any woman who has serious problems should be treated for them and have the option of working part time, but so should anyone with a bad back or any other health issue that makes continuing to work full time difficult.

Nipsmun, Ive had a damn sight more than an 'uncomfortable' menopause, effects from which Im still suffering. We are not all sailing through it with a few hot flushes. Mine was completely debilitating mentally and physically. I could not just go on HRT due to health issues. Have a little thought for women like myself whose debilitating symptoms go on for years. I would have welcomed a more understanding attitude from the workplace (some hope) and I think this is a good idea. Moreso for the next generation in my family, who I sincerely hope do not suffer like I did.

Oh for goodness sake - read the policy and point out exactly where it says anything about ‘life threatening‘’.

This is about recognising that some women suffer a great deal from conditions related to the menopause. This is about making reasonable adjustments to enable women to continue working productively for a long as possible.

Oh for goodness sake,menopause is not a life threatening illness. Uncomfortable maybe but in no way life threatening. Why do so many people need so much attention for a natural body process. Maybe our hospitals wouldn't be so overcrowded of people stopped running to hospital with minor complaints and natural occurrences.

My daughter used to work for Channel 4 and now regrets that she left as she applauds this move. I am ambivalent about this....not sure why.

Well done to C4 and all the other companies and organisations who are taking these proactive and foreword thinking steps to encourage women to stay as productive as possible in the workplace for as long as possible.

This sort of employment policy was mooted at the Labour party conference this year and I started a thread about employers helping their employees to manage working through the menopause, making their lives at work a little easier and perhaps leading to less days taken as sick leave.

The ideas did not go down well at all with a number of gransnetters. The prevailing mood seemed to be that is they themselves had struggled through then they would be damned if anyone else should have any extra consideration from their employer.

I agree with you and with Channel 4, and I believe that policies such as these are of benefit to both employers and employees.