Unions welcome Royal Mail support for women through the menopause
The CWU communication workers’ union has welcomed the first ever Royal Mail Group menopause guide for managers.
Supporting women at work through the menopause is endorsed by the CWU and the general Unite/CMA union.
It advises managers that they should make any necessary changes to help women keep cool and manage stress levels and any problems they are having with memory or concentration.
They should also direct women to helplines and sources of advice and guidance for managing their symptoms and lifestyle and “take a flexible and sympathetic approach to requests for a break or return home if they become unwell at work”.
The guidance provides key points to consider when managing an employee who is going through the menopause. It includes the following advice:
• not everyone wants to talk about issues so personal to them, but if they do, managers should listen and be understanding of the issue; and
• women may feel uncomfortable going to their line manager, especially if the manager is younger or a man, and may wish to speak to a different manager or use a support phone line to talk to someone confidentially for advice.