This world menopause day, Rhondda Cynon Taf is celebrating its female employees and highlighting the great work of Staying Well at Work.
In October 2019, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council formally launched its menopause guide. The guide provides information as well as signposting support for Council employees experiencing menopause symptoms.
It also raises awareness of the menopause with managers and the rest of the workforce at the Council to enable us all to support women’s health and wellbeing throughout the various stages of their lives.
Staying Well at Work (SWAW) is now proud to extend this by offering similar support to women who live or work across Rhondda Cynon Taf. Their aim is to encourage women to break down barriers and speak out about their experience of menopause and seek help to manage their symptoms.
Led by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, the Staying Well at Work project aims to provide support to small businesses and their employees.
The support is offered free of charge and focussed on a bespoke range of products to improve employee Health and Wellbeing and businesses to manage employees with disabilities/work limiting health conditions.
Councillor Maureen Webber, Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said:
“It’s important we continue to educate and discuss the menopause with our entire workforce, not just women, as everyone will experience it at some point whether that’s in the workplace, at home or in other social settings.
“These guide launched by the Council in 2019 has been a great success and has helped form the basis of our conversations on the menopause so we can continue to break down the barriers and embarrassment on the subject, ensuring those affected are treated with understanding, dignity and respect. The work of SWAW will now allow this to be shared to women and their employers across RCT.”
Helen Rodway, the project’s Clinical Lead and Occupational Health Advisor, said:
“Traditionally menopause is a taboo subject. Inevitably the symptoms, which can be both physical and psychological, will be exacerbated by negative or discriminatory attitudes in the workplace. Today with women making up 50% of the Welsh workforce and working longer, this needs to change.”
Staying Well at Work have developed a series of awareness raising and training packages for both women and their employers, as well as a policy and supporting guidance, to increase awareness of the impact that menopause can have and to understand the adjustments that can be put in place to support and retain staff.
If you are employed or self-employed, and either live or work in Rhondda Cynon Taf for a small business of less than 250 employees, however your menopause affects you, we are here to help.
For further information on how Staying Well at Work can support you or your business (subject to eligibility) please contact us on 01443 827317 or email us at stayingwellatwork@rctcbc.gov.uk
Posted on 18/10/2021