Menopause wellbeing and perimenopause wellbeing are topics that affect everyone at some stage in life. They directly affect just under half of the population as every woman will go through it during their lifetime.
Everyone will also likely know someone who will go through menopause or perimenopause, either at home or throughout their career. So why do we rarely hear about the topic?
Often women will feel uncomfortable or even confused when going through the stages of menopause and perimenopause, either as a direct result of symptoms or due to the stigma associated with them.
Historically, people have not been educated on the menopause; when it begins, what the symptoms are, or how to support someone going through this transition.
Why is this a problem?
The lack of education around the topic of menopause or perimenopause can cause several issues in the workplace. People are discriminated against because of it as others do not understand or empathise with them.
The UK has an ageing population alongside a retirement age of 66, which is likely to rise. This means more and more women are likely to experience perimenopause or menopause whilst still in their careers. It is not a topic that will be going away any time soon.
If managers and senior staff are not equipped to support people with menopausal symptoms, it can cause an increase in sickness leave, decreased morale and mental health, and a loss of assets and skills from the workplace.
Every woman can experience symptoms of menopause or perimenopause differently, which can cause more confusion for both the employee and their colleagues.
What can we do about it?
To raise awareness of menopause wellbeing in the workplace whilst providing an inclusive environment, training is required. If not, businesses risk a loss of resources and profits.
Managers and other employees need to be trained on how to deal with situations that may occur, such as when someone is experiencing hot flushes, irregular periods, or fatigue. This will help to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
Immersion Studio uses live virtual reality avatars to simulate scenarios around the topic of the menopause or perimenopause. This allows staff to practice and improve their skills for dealing with these situations, without putting anyone at risk.
Many participants also feel more comfortable speaking about the topic to a trained actor and virtual reality avatar, which will build their confidence to speak to real life colleagues.
Our live virtual reality platform can be accessed from anywhere, meaning everyone has access to the same quality of menopause or perimenopause training. Bespoke scenarios can also be developed based upon a company’s unique requirements.
Workplaces that provide live virtual reality menopause or perimenopause training are likely to benefit from increased team morale, confidence and productivity.
If you would like to get in touch with us to find out more, please contact 01270 449165 or email hello@connectotraining.co.uk.
