women leaving jobSometimes, the menopause at work is not a good mix!

I quit my own executive position and didn’t know why. I was acutely aware that I was a ‘waste of space’. Two-thirds of women in a recent survey by Nuffield Health reported hormonal changes were having a detrimental effect on their lives.

In my experience, women are resigning before they have identified the cause – Menopause! The benefit of hindsight is too late. Resigning for Work/Life balance is a poor excuse and one that holds no water. How do I know? It happened to me!

 

Emotions are all over the place and can’t be related to their true cause because of ignorance. Emotions, ranging from anger and aggression to a complete wreck who can’t stop blabbering with none of it making sense. This is not behaviour that you feel able to talk about in the workplace. “They’ll think I’m mad” is a common plea. “I cannot afford to be identified as not pulling my weight, I’ll be out like a shot” say others.

 

Menopause takes no prisoners and manifests itself any time of the day or night, at home or at work. Women resign rather than face disciplinary procedures or dismissal and yet, neither party understands the true cause of these changes.  If somebody in Occupational Health, for instance, does listen, the usual course of action is to diagnose depression and refer for mental health support. What?? Without even considering hormone imbalance? Come on UK Plc., wake up, you’re losing good staff for all the wrong reasons.

 

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