A renowned menopause expert and published author, Kate Usher, is set to embark on a virtual road tour across the UK, Europe, and North America in the run-up to World Menopause Day on Friday, 18 October. Usher, who founded Menopause in Business to help organisations create menopause-inclusive workplaces, aims to raise awareness about the challenges many women face during menopause, both in their careers and personal lives.
Tackling Menopause in the Workplace
Kate Usher, an advocate for menopause awareness, emphasises that while there has been progress, much more needs to be done to ensure women are not disadvantaged by this natural phase of life. Her focus is on educating companies about the importance of supporting menopausal employees so that women can continue thriving in their careers. Usher believes that workplaces need to adapt and offer a supportive environment for those experiencing menopause, ensuring that no one feels isolated or compelled to leave their jobs due to a lack of understanding or accommodations.
Usher’s virtual tour will see her engage with leading organisations across different regions, where she will discuss the wide-ranging impact of menopause in the workplace. Some of the notable organisations she will address include:
- Sky – UK
- The Natural History Museum – London
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie – Belgium
- Miller Knoll – USA
- Charles Stanley – UK
- Maples Teesdale – UK
Menopause and its Broader Impacts
During her presentations, Usher will explore key topics surrounding menopause, including its physical, emotional, and psychological effects. She will also cover the impact it has not just on women, but on men, families, and entire organisations.
“I’ll be speaking about a wide range of issues, from understanding menopause and how perceptions shape our thinking, to the importance of openly discussing it in both professional and personal settings,” Usher said. I will also outline effective ways to support menopausal women and highlight the role everyone can play as allies in this journey.
Usher is particularly concerned with the potential loss of talent if organisations fail to implement flexible, supportive policies. She points out that many women leave the workforce altogether because their employers are not accommodating enough, leading to a significant loss in expertise and experience. “If organisations do not step up and support women during menopause, they risk losing valuable employees who may feel that they have no choice but to leave,” she added.
The Focus of World Menopause Month: HRT and Beyond
The theme for this year’s World Menopause Month, which takes place throughout October, is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, as Usher explains, HRT is only one aspect of the menopause experience. “Supporting women during menopause goes beyond HRT. It’s about providing timely access to both medical and psychological resources to help women regain control over their experience,” Usher stated. This not only benefits women, but it also helps them stay on track with their career paths, creating a win-win situation for both employees and employers.
Alarming Statistics Around Menopause in the Workplace
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) policy paper published earlier this year highlighted that one in 10 members of the UK workforce is currently menopausal. Of this group, a significant number leave their jobs due to inadequate support. Additionally, a 2023 report by Simply Health titled Health and Wellbeing at Work revealed that 87 per cent of women believe employers should be more proactive when it comes to addressing women’s health. The report also found that menopause-related issues contribute to the loss of an estimated 14 million productivity days in the UK each year, costing the economy £1.88 billion.
Kate Usher: Author and Advocate for Change
Kate Usher is the author of Your Second Phase: Reclaiming Work and Relationships During and After Menopause, as well as A Couple’s Guide to Menopause: Navigating the Change Together, which she co-authored with her husband Neil. The latter, published in August, is believed to be the first book of its kind where partners share their individual perspectives on menopause, offering a unique and balanced approach to the subject.
Usher’s personal experience with perimenopause and menopause led her to refocus her consultancy work on this important issue, and today she is a sought-after speaker, regularly advocating for normalising menopause conversations in the workplace.
