[New Episode] Small Steps, Big Difference

Practical steps that employers can take to support women at menopause in the workplace

Where do you start if you are an organisation that wants to introduce measures to support employees at menopause in the workplace? Have your employees started to ask for assistance or are you taking the initiative? This is currently a hot topic in the UK and the interest is growing worldwide.

My guest this week, Kirsty Dixon, is a Learning and Development Advisor working in the area of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of York. She is a perimenopausal woman who has been hit hard by menopause and its symptoms, especially at work.

In the past two years she has been raising awareness of the effect of menopause symptoms in the workplace. She will be sharing with me the small steps that the University has taken that are making a big difference to the staff.

https://www.patduckworth.com/menopausemindthegap/

Join me for this essential conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.

Show Notes

Segment 1

Pat starts her show by mentioning that the previous week she was sharing a book room with Jennifer Hoff (her guest), who sells books in the media. Jennifer has been very successful selling books on getting wealth. Pat recommends looking at NAMS (North America Menopause Society) as this community can help women with depression and menopause disorders. They recommend that listening to music is good for health care, it is not only instrumental).  

Pat says that many women go to psychologists to look for the support and help that they need because they feel invisible. She adds that youngest women get information at the internet about relations, menstruation, and menopause even though Pat suggests being more informed about this ‘disorder’ instead. She considers very relevant a Report from New Zealand: University program that provides employers should have policies for the staff since menopause is a healthy matter and it affects to women. Pat introduces her guest Kirsty Dixon. She is a Learning and Development Advisor who works in the area of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of York. They debate why nowadays employers are getting more interest in this issue related to menopause and its symptoms since these are different for each woman. Before the break, Pat says that it is good that every woman (even celebrities) talks about menopause to evidence that all women will live that period during their lives.

Segment 2

After the break, Pat starts asking Kirsty about what she is doing at the University of York. She mentions that she is working on a project that the University is interested in with five different groups. Her work is to talk to them about menopause and its symptoms: How this affects working with menopausal women and their employers? Any steps to help them?

Pat adds during their conversation that Kirsty is a perimenopausal woman who has been hit hard by menopause and its symptoms, especially at work. Additionally, Kirsty says that her mind doesn’t work the same and after explaining it to her workmates, they understood her. Pat tells her that her menopause started at 30s.

Segment 3

In this segment, Pat keeps asking Kirsty: ‘What differences have you noticed at the University from doing this work?’ and Kirsty answers: ‘The most relevant is the fact that people are happy to talk about menopause and they are feeling confident’. 

Apart from this, Pat asks her what kinds of techniques you do to deal with your brain? Kirsty mentions at the beginning that her time management is a bit of a disaster but then she says that she needs to write everything in detail and she and her teammates  are getting little things step by step. Before the break, Pat mentions that they will talk about the practices  that employers should take into account.

Segment 4

In this last segment, Pat starts saying that we need to empower women in the world-place. Pat asks Kirsty what first step she took to do this initiative. Kirsty mentions that she joined a Learning team and she talked with them about the initiatives that they had like the one of menopause and its symptoms. Pat asks her what is the biggest thing to improve and then Kirsty adds that people get to grow up. Additionally, Pat wants to know how Kirsty managed her stress when she had menopause. Kirsty explains that stress is normal and things are changing and we have to learn how to feel well: ‘It is something normal and many people are supportive’.

Pat states that a ‘big company has to face this because it is crucial for the employer the way you work or not’. Pat explains the changing chemicals in women organisms and that some people kid about it and maybe this can affect in an embarrassing way and women avoid opportunities at the workplace.

Transcript

00:00:56.190 --> 00:01:06.840 Pat Duckworth: Welcome to the hot women rock radio show empowering women leaders at menopause good morning America good afternoon UK good evening, India and.

00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:13.470 Pat Duckworth: All the way around to Singapore and Australia it's great if you're joining us today.

00:01:13.890 --> 00:01:22.290 Pat Duckworth: And if you're joining us today on Facebook, you will see that my lovely guest is joining in the dancing today, which I always love so great to see kirsty.

00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:32.400 Pat Duckworth: i'll be coming back to you in a minute, but as usual we'll be starting with what's in the media, but before I get there, my guest last week was the amazing Jennifer half.

00:01:32.850 --> 00:01:40.350 Pat Duckworth: And it was great that she could join us on her book launch day she was launching unstuck the physics of getting out of your own way.

00:01:40.770 --> 00:01:48.150 Pat Duckworth: And i'm delighted to say that her book became a number one bestseller within two days in several countries.

00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:56.820 Pat Duckworth: In America, Canada, the UK and other countries as well, and she asked me to give you all her thanks for.

00:01:57.300 --> 00:02:05.820 Pat Duckworth: Getting her books supporting her book launch and making it such an amazing success so congratulations to Jennifer Hoff, if you haven't got your copy of.

00:02:06.450 --> 00:02:18.630 Pat Duckworth: unstuck the physics of getting out of your own way go get your copy now anyway let's take a look at what's in the news because there's some really interesting reports and because, last week I was talking about.

00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:31.530 Pat Duckworth: books, and so I had two weeks worth of news to troll through and there was some pretty big news reports, so what is in there, so the economic times of India reported.

00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:43.590 Pat Duckworth: About a new report from the North American medical support society and IMS menopause can be tough but music can ease mood swings and depression says study.

00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:53.400 Pat Duckworth: A recent study suggests that music is not only instrumental in managing menopausal symptoms but also helps women experiencing depression induced by multiples.

00:02:53.850 --> 00:03:00.300 Pat Duckworth: Music, not only stirs ourselves as you've seen if you've watched us just dancing but also stimulates our hormones.

00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:08.310 Pat Duckworth: The study finds that music aids the secretion of neurotransmitters like dopamine serotonin and endorphins and oxytocin.

00:03:08.640 --> 00:03:18.210 Pat Duckworth: Which alleviate moods it also decreases the levels of circulating stress hormones, such as cortisol aiding in the management of multiple symptoms.

00:03:18.510 --> 00:03:25.680 Pat Duckworth: So if you interested in that you want to take a look go to the ma m s website, the North American medical society.

00:03:26.610 --> 00:03:36.270 Pat Duckworth: The next is another report, this time from the kings from the kings Fund is a London based organization that supports and funds.

00:03:37.170 --> 00:03:47.520 Pat Duckworth: Research into various aspects of health and this one was women's priorities for women's health, so what priorities we have for health, and it was a focus study.

00:03:48.030 --> 00:03:55.680 Pat Duckworth: group, it was about if I say about 79 people, it was 79 people so not a huge group, but really interesting.

00:03:56.100 --> 00:04:10.020 Pat Duckworth: In our focus groups women aged 18 to 24 prioritize menstrual health and contraception women aged 25 to 44 prioritized reproductive disorders fertility and perinatal health.

00:04:10.650 --> 00:04:21.690 Pat Duckworth: and conversations between women aged 45 to 64 were dominated by men supports women over 65 described feeling invisible in the health care system.

00:04:22.410 --> 00:04:32.490 Pat Duckworth: And their priorities related to managing their weight fitness and general health managing long term conditions and financial barriers to accessing healthcare.

00:04:33.780 --> 00:04:41.880 Pat Duckworth: Many of our participants felt their voices were not always heard by health professionals, they shared experience of feeling brushed off.

00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:51.900 Pat Duckworth: And felt the clinicians on occasion diminish their symptoms and concerns, this was a clear perception that women's health problems were not taken seriously.

00:04:52.230 --> 00:04:59.310 Pat Duckworth: And some had experienced significant delays to diagnosis of long term conditions such as endometriosis.

00:04:59.640 --> 00:05:11.160 Pat Duckworth: This is something i've referred to before in terms of women at menopause that it can take two years and several doctors before you get the health, the help and support that you need.

00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:22.740 Pat Duckworth: Various to and facilitators to open discussions about women's health focused on society or awareness stigma and to boo which there still is around women's health issues.

00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:34.140 Pat Duckworth: And not being taken seriously older women feeling invisible or fall off I don't know if you know that phrase in America fobbed off like nobody's taking any notice.

00:05:37.200 --> 00:05:49.440 Pat Duckworth: i'm just trying to pricey this a bit, but what it says is the youngest and South Asian groups have a lack of awareness of information and education and were thought to be lacking in many areas of women's health.

00:05:49.830 --> 00:05:58.680 Pat Duckworth: Participants frequently mentioned uncertainty ease about what's normal, particularly in relation to menstruation and multiples.

00:05:59.460 --> 00:06:09.990 Pat Duckworth: So that issue of race comes up again, which I discussed with Reverend Dr carolyn Curry avery a couple of weeks ago if you missed that, as it is.

00:06:10.950 --> 00:06:25.770 Pat Duckworth: Racial Equality week here in the UK and it's black history month in there in America, if you go to talk radio dot nyc and look for hot women rock you'll find a really interesting discussion with the Reverend Dr Terry Lynn.

00:06:26.910 --> 00:06:31.650 Pat Duckworth: Another one about that men of color menopause and the effect on Black women.

00:06:32.130 --> 00:06:37.800 Pat Duckworth: Well, all women experience perimenopause menopause and hormonal changes during this stage of life.

00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:48.720 Pat Duckworth: Women of color particularly black women feel its effects more profoundly studies show that black women are more likely to enter menopause earlier than their white counterparts.

00:06:49.170 --> 00:07:01.380 Pat Duckworth: Age 49 verses age 51 experience more severe symptoms have hot flashes for longer periods of time 10 years as opposed to 6.5 years for white women.

00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:15.600 Pat Duckworth: spend more time in the medicals transition and the question is why some of the discussion points around the knowledge gap physicians have around menopause treatment management, the lack of research on women of color in medicals.

00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:29.310 Pat Duckworth: longevity impact of health disparities on menopause and how lifestyles socio economic status stresses that include systemic racism play a part in black women's health and disease.

00:07:29.670 --> 00:07:39.090 Pat Duckworth: There is an important discussion around but, again, I would point you back to my discussion with the Reverend Dr Tara Lynn two weeks ago on hot women rock radio.

00:07:39.930 --> 00:07:48.570 Pat Duckworth: This one, this is a news item that made me happy and then worried and then happy again, as I kind of waited to hear more about it.

00:07:48.930 --> 00:07:57.960 Pat Duckworth: And this is plans to sell vaginal hrt tablets of the counter so when this was reported in many major outlets a week or so ago.

00:07:58.230 --> 00:08:08.820 Pat Duckworth: They said hrt is going to be made available over the counter and I was like Oh, and then I was like oh no actually your health needs to be monitored, while you're taking hrt because.

00:08:09.210 --> 00:08:28.050 Pat Duckworth: hormones are very powerful chemicals in the system, and so you need to be monitored find out whether they're affecting anything else, but it wasn't hrt generally it was vaginal hrt which is topical hrt to help with dryness and boys beautifully called vaginal atrophy.

00:08:29.250 --> 00:08:38.190 Pat Duckworth: So vaginal estrogen tablets I think these are actually pessary's I just don't know why they couldn't use the word pessary's practice sometimes it's a boo around but.

00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:48.900 Pat Duckworth: could be available in chemists depending on the outcome of a consultation under the proposals women would be able to get them without prescription instead of going to see their general practitioner.

00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:58.200 Pat Duckworth: Doctors caution that pharmacist and women needs to be well informed on the choice of treatments available so yeah that's really important.

00:08:58.590 --> 00:09:07.080 Pat Duckworth: But topical hrt doesn't put as much hrt generally into the system it's working on the area where the hormone is needed.

00:09:07.410 --> 00:09:21.420 Pat Duckworth: And so, some of the fears that women have about the risks around hrt aren't necessarily there when you're dealing with topical hrt like skin creams vaginal pessary's vaginal rings i've said those words it's all okay.

00:09:22.530 --> 00:09:34.740 Pat Duckworth: And this will be of interest my guest kirsty Dixon, this is a report from New Zealand university program providing support guide for employers on helping menopausal workers.

00:09:35.310 --> 00:09:48.240 Pat Duckworth: There is a growing push for employees to provide more support for workers suffering symptoms of menopause Julie Stafford the operations and project manager University of canterbury's college of engineering set.

00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:56.070 Pat Duckworth: Of set of work she began that I always start with a news report there's a word in it, but I can't say probably i'm just gonna have to go.

00:09:56.580 --> 00:10:04.860 Pat Duckworth: Raw entertainer multiples of work program at the University, which launched last October on world menopause day.

00:10:05.280 --> 00:10:17.520 Pat Duckworth: She developed university guidelines, a support guide for managers help them hold sensitive conversations with staff and a website, which has information practical suggestions and links to many resources Stafford say.

00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:25.530 Pat Duckworth: We arranged a seminar for staff on our launch week and we've got more seminars to come this year we're holding regular multiples cafes.

00:10:25.830 --> 00:10:31.920 Pat Duckworth: And we set up a minute Paul supporters group so any staff can contact them to have a confidential.

00:10:32.430 --> 00:10:41.460 Pat Duckworth: and understanding chat with that person Stafford said, the group aim to educate staff and managers provide support and practical suggestions.

00:10:41.880 --> 00:10:52.770 Pat Duckworth: And to try and lift the stigma around discussing menopause at work, this is very dear to our hearts isn't it kirsty i'm bringing you into the conversation.

00:10:55.710 --> 00:11:03.600 Pat Duckworth: So unmute kirsty and Come on, and tell me, have you had conversations with other universities in the UK about this.

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:09.570 Kirsty Dixon: idea when when I initially did my research into.

00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:20.250 Kirsty Dixon: Putting on some sessions for this idea to go around to other universities to say you know what what's going on, what are you doing and.

00:11:21.810 --> 00:11:23.460 Kirsty Dixon: You know, there were things going on.

00:11:24.870 --> 00:11:26.820 Pat Duckworth: You know, have introduced policies how.

00:11:27.930 --> 00:11:32.550 Pat Duckworth: About I don't know about 20 of the universities have introduced policies now.

00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:33.510 Kirsty Dixon: yeah there's.

00:11:34.590 --> 00:11:39.900 Kirsty Dixon: A lot of policies, a lot of people were sort of getting external trainers.

00:11:41.010 --> 00:11:48.390 Kirsty Dixon: To deliver sort of awareness session so it's definitely it's definitely getting on the agenda a lot.

00:11:49.200 --> 00:12:05.610 Pat Duckworth: So it's really good to see this being taken seriously outside the UK as well, so in New Zealand because i've seen reports plenty of press reports now from Australia have various employers public organizations starting to talk about it.

00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:15.960 Pat Duckworth: But i'm actually I actually feel quite proud, but in the UK we're probably in the forefront of this and that's partly because of.

00:12:16.470 --> 00:12:25.440 Pat Duckworth: The Equality Act 2010 which kind of raised awareness of this as a health issue and how this could be treated under the equality at.

00:12:25.920 --> 00:12:37.260 Pat Duckworth: partly the case law that's developed from it that various cases have now been to employment tribunal, or you know courts as you would think of them in America.

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:56.640 Pat Duckworth: Actually, citing menopause as a reason why a woman's performance hasn't been what it was, or perhaps there's been elements of harassment or bullying or name calling by colleagues and actually by business owners, which is really marrying so.

00:12:57.750 --> 00:13:08.850 Pat Duckworth: it's lots of reasons why employers are starting to get interested in it, is that what you're finding kirsty there's there's just more interest in this as a subject.

00:13:09.390 --> 00:13:20.190 Kirsty Dixon: I think the reason I think its way over here there's been an awful lot I think we've kind of hit a generation who are happy to talk about it and don't want to just sit there and and suffer in silence.

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.720 Kirsty Dixon: And I think that.

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.440 Kirsty Dixon: In itself has made a huge difference as well, because all of a sudden, people can.

00:13:27.030 --> 00:13:29.430 Kirsty Dixon: I can mention the word monopoles without.

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:34.650 Kirsty Dixon: You know, and then you get people like us, who will sneak it in any way we possibly.

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.700 Pat Duckworth: mission mission.

00:13:42.420 --> 00:13:42.600 Kirsty Dixon: Oh.

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:47.220 Kirsty Dixon: That doesn't even make people go quite so much these days.

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:47.700 Because.

00:13:49.290 --> 00:13:49.620 Kirsty Dixon: You know.

00:13:50.880 --> 00:13:51.210 Kirsty Dixon: yeah.

00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:54.750 Pat Duckworth: We can we can just say these words, nothing bad happens.

00:13:56.400 --> 00:14:05.130 Pat Duckworth: And of course we've got a lot more celebrities talking about it now, which sometimes can get a bit oh not another celebrity talking about the minerals.

00:14:05.490 --> 00:14:14.130 Pat Duckworth: And at the same time is role modeling for younger women it's okay it's Okay, you can talk about it we're all going to go through it.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:24.090 Pat Duckworth: So on that note join us after the break when i'll be talking to christy Dixon about her experiences I gotta sneak in and asked her how her mentor pulls has been.

00:14:24.450 --> 00:14:33.810 Pat Duckworth: And about the work that she's been doing at the University of York to help raise awareness and support women employees join us after the break.

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:59.340 Pat Duckworth: Welcome back to the hot women rock radio show empowering women leaders at menopause were to date we're talking about menopause in the workplace and the steps that employers can take.

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:11.430 Pat Duckworth: So my guest is kirsty Dixon she's rocking it out with me here in the studio she's a parable perimenopausal woman who's been hit hard by menopausal symptoms, especially at work.

00:17:11.820 --> 00:17:20.850 Pat Duckworth: Like many others, she was totally unaware that it could have this impact it made her determined to raise awareness of the effect of menopause and it symptoms.

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:28.740 Pat Duckworth: What she's been doing at the University of your question works this mainly started about a year ago, through an apprenticeship, and has.

00:17:29.070 --> 00:17:45.300 Pat Duckworth: had quite an impact it's amazing how small steps in the workplace can make such a big difference and make staff feel supported having the university's backing to do this has been key I don't even know where to start because i'm so excited that we're.

00:17:45.300 --> 00:17:46.500 Pat Duckworth: Talking about this.

00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:54.030 Pat Duckworth: And you and I talked so many times about this and we've never met face to face it's crazy.

00:17:55.170 --> 00:17:55.980 Pat Duckworth: Because we started.

00:17:56.010 --> 00:17:57.030 Pat Duckworth: Talking about it.

00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:11.580 Pat Duckworth: Like in 2020 when we were all locked down and you came on one of my courses about this so Pasty, how do you do get to be working for university of your tell me a bit about how you got to where you are today.

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.390 Kirsty Dixon: and university now for.

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:31.530 Kirsty Dixon: Coming up eight years, and I just want you know it's the campus has got such a lovely favorite somewhere on wanted to work, so you know plied initially for an office manager job which I got but.

00:18:33.270 --> 00:18:40.050 Kirsty Dixon: Two three years ago now, I actually did an apprenticeship through university and to be alone in development practitioner.

00:18:40.470 --> 00:18:52.350 Kirsty Dixon: And that was how I came about doing the work that i've been doing over the past year around medicals my needed a work based project and that's what I did it on menopause awareness.

00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:57.780 Pat Duckworth: Fantastic so not so fantastic how many apples effect to you.

00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:00.750 Kirsty Dixon: yeah man I I was.

00:19:02.490 --> 00:19:03.870 Kirsty Dixon: told many portals.

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:15.540 Kirsty Dixon: And you know still believe in what I was told it score it wasn't just make an impact and it just sat there bubbling away for years and then, when I was 49 it literally.

00:19:15.870 --> 00:19:19.470 Kirsty Dixon: hit me slapped me in the chops good and proper literally overnight.

00:19:20.250 --> 00:19:35.400 Kirsty Dixon: And I had no idea what was going on, it got to the point where I went to work, one day, and I was just sat there and called my manager into the office knows what's happening in Florida teams, I was anxious or stressed, I had no idea why I felt I didn't even know why I was crying.

00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:51.780 Kirsty Dixon: So I went off and went to my doctor and it was it was sort of menopausal symptoms and i've got put on hrt and which, for me, I was really lucky because it started kicked him really quickly, and I was off work for two and a half weeks well.

00:19:53.100 --> 00:20:03.660 Kirsty Dixon: And yeah and my journey, since I mean that's six years ago now, my journey since it's still being i'm unfortunately one of the one in four that really does get a bit of a dodgy time.

00:20:04.170 --> 00:20:15.750 Kirsty Dixon: And it brain fog all that especially trying to work is just a man it's just a nightmare and but that support that i've had with.

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:35.340 Kirsty Dixon: family, friends colleagues line manager, you name it has been so key in helping with that journey and my view is I don't want people to have the same experiences I have and, if I can educate people to make them more aware, so they know what's coming happy days.

00:20:36.330 --> 00:20:50.610 Pat Duckworth: Absolutely, and you were saying like it started for you 44 and I think some women go to the doctor when they're 44 and get told they're too young because you're too young yeah.

00:20:51.210 --> 00:21:00.870 Kirsty Dixon: Now i'm lucky, I have read my doctor has been brilliant and and, as I say, that's what I was told when I was 44 and you know, so I mean, like you, but, as you say you know pink or told.

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:10.140 Kirsty Dixon: You don't get put on hrt until your periods of stocks where's that come from yeah crazy how many people are told that.

00:21:10.710 --> 00:21:17.340 Pat Duckworth: yeah yeah until you've gone through many calls you don't get a hormone therapy through this one if.

00:21:17.910 --> 00:21:19.350 Pat Duckworth: let's bust that myth.

00:21:19.770 --> 00:21:20.370 Kirsty Dixon: That one.

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:39.180 Pat Duckworth: And there are other myths route, where we can bust some of those myths, so you know i'm going to go this straight off kirsty that you know your hormones are generally okay generally your hormones are reducing from when you're in your early 30s.

00:21:40.410 --> 00:21:48.570 Pat Duckworth: And so that term perimenopause which is just thrown about it's as your hormones are going into decline.

00:21:49.020 --> 00:21:59.130 Pat Duckworth: Then, at some stage, you might start to feel symptoms some women don't some women do we're all different and it's all okay it's about understanding Liz.

00:21:59.490 --> 00:22:16.830 Pat Duckworth: So it's not like those are peri peri men are paul's there's just a time when you haven't gone through menopause and your hormones are reducing and you're starting to experience sentence that's what it is it's time.

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:27.810 Kirsty Dixon: And, as we know anybody born with reproductive organs will go through some point doesn't have to be when you're in your 50s is could be 14 is the youngest i'm aware of.

00:22:29.610 --> 00:22:38.880 Kirsty Dixon: For various reasons, magical just because your body decides to do it, you know so yeah I think that awareness needs raising from.

00:22:40.020 --> 00:22:43.110 Kirsty Dixon: You know yeah well to school and.

00:22:43.290 --> 00:22:51.120 Pat Duckworth: yeah I would just love it if at school, they explained the whole reproductive cycle like this is where you are now.

00:22:51.480 --> 00:23:01.740 Pat Duckworth: This is what you will probably go through, and you know, not everybody does, but most and then you'll do this and then it will be this and then it will be this.

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:12.600 Pat Duckworth: You know, some awareness, because some women get to being in menopause perhaps early in perimenopause early in their 40s they put off.

00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:19.050 Pat Duckworth: Having children having a family, nobody told them about that stage where the hormones are reducing.

00:23:19.950 --> 00:23:31.740 Pat Duckworth: You know it's not like it well, for some people, they do go off a cliff edge i'm going to keep saying you know it's like generally because everybody's experience is different and we need to embrace that.

00:23:32.070 --> 00:23:36.900 Pat Duckworth: And as women, we need to say what's right for one person isn't right for another person.

00:23:38.190 --> 00:23:39.900 Pat Duckworth: Right i've got that off my chest, we can.

00:23:43.050 --> 00:23:48.390 Pat Duckworth: So what support, have you been getting in your workplace what has helped you the most.

00:23:48.930 --> 00:23:56.910 Kirsty Dixon: Well, the thing that's helped me the most is I mean i've been very open from day one, when I came back off sick and I walked through the door literally going.

00:23:57.180 --> 00:24:11.400 Kirsty Dixon: Oh, my God, everyone is menopause can you believe it because I can't believe it myself, so I have been very open and but all my, as I say, muscle alive manager, my colleagues have all been really supportive.

00:24:12.750 --> 00:24:19.590 Kirsty Dixon: And I if I felt had a day around really struggling i've been able to say look.

00:24:20.610 --> 00:24:26.040 Kirsty Dixon: You know i'm struggling i'm sorry my brain is just It is just not it's just not functioning.

00:24:27.270 --> 00:24:43.230 Kirsty Dixon: i've seen, we have an occupational health system at work, so you know my manager said, would you would you like me to refer you there so i've had that so you know there's that yeah I mean just that support just knowing that I can talk about it.

00:24:44.430 --> 00:24:50.310 Kirsty Dixon: And that it's understood and the people are listening what a huge difference just that.

00:24:51.450 --> 00:25:03.810 Pat Duckworth: Absolutely yeah because when I started going through menopause I was quite educated about it because i'm usually i'd started learning about it, I didn't have a professional interest in it at that stage.

00:25:04.170 --> 00:25:10.770 Pat Duckworth: I went to my first menopause event when I was in my 30s because my mother had a hysterectomy.

00:25:11.850 --> 00:25:12.150 Pat Duckworth: didn't.

00:25:13.290 --> 00:25:20.610 Pat Duckworth: She was a bit of a drama queen but bless her you know she was going through her own experience, I thought I need to understand what this is about.

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:34.500 Pat Duckworth: But even with that understanding I got to my late 40s I got a really high pressure job I was commuting I was still studying and I got brain fog.

00:25:35.670 --> 00:25:45.030 Pat Duckworth: For me it felt like my eyes whenever in focus, if you look at my house today are afraid just my glasses are still wonky I don't know what that's about.

00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:53.520 Pat Duckworth: But I actually felt like I constantly needed a new pair of glasses it felt like I just couldn't see clearly anymore.

00:25:54.000 --> 00:26:02.640 Pat Duckworth: it's so weird is saying and women who experienced brain fog will tell you, if it's a bit scary because you can always feel like you're getting dementia.

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:18.360 Pat Duckworth: And a lot of women worry that that's what's happening to them they're getting early dementia and imagine how that's kind of feeling in the workplace, what kind of techniques, did you do to deal with your brain fog where you a post it note person or.

00:26:18.930 --> 00:26:26.880 Kirsty Dixon: You know, Pat i'm still struggling yeah my time money at the most organized person I time management is completely out the window.

00:26:27.450 --> 00:26:38.700 Kirsty Dixon: And you know post it, I still and I think this is one thing, where I still struggle with the acceptance, because they used to have sat you know to do this either be some students it.

00:26:39.750 --> 00:26:48.720 Kirsty Dixon: was all perfectly there now, and you know even in writing, something down if I don't write enough detail.

00:26:49.620 --> 00:27:03.720 Kirsty Dixon: Then, if I just want something along cow remember that it's amazing how often and let the other day I had written rotating rotor I still have no idea when I take them motor is about it.

00:27:05.370 --> 00:27:12.660 Kirsty Dixon: But yeah I mean definitely, without a doubt, you need to write things down I you know I have learned you can't just keep it in your head because.

00:27:13.710 --> 00:27:21.480 Kirsty Dixon: You just it's just guys and you have a brain fog light I used to say to people is like shutters come down in my head literally.

00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:36.660 Kirsty Dixon: And I even sat even when I was so convinced before, while I was still fighting this so I didn't believe that in menopause could be having this impact actually sat in my GP surgery and said, I will pay for a private brain scan because I was taken.

00:27:37.950 --> 00:27:39.060 Kirsty Dixon: There was more going on.

00:27:40.350 --> 00:27:53.130 Pat Duckworth: And we know now because, fortunately there is research going on into what happens in women's brains that menopause and our brains are so reliant on eastern it's such a powerful chemical in women's brains.

00:27:53.730 --> 00:28:05.220 Pat Duckworth: That we now understand that the reduction in the levels of eastridge anything having effects on all sorts of brain function, you know part of the reason we get hot flashes is a brain function there.

00:28:05.790 --> 00:28:12.660 Pat Duckworth: You know the reason that we can't sleep as well, is a brain function thing the cielo and even losing.

00:28:14.310 --> 00:28:33.810 Pat Duckworth: The anxiety is a brain function thing it's a changing chemicals, so the more research that's done in this area, the more will understand why we're experiencing the things that we do, and you know the whole forgetting your kids names for getting other people's names.

00:28:33.810 --> 00:28:34.950 Kirsty Dixon: forgetting my name.

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:48.210 Pat Duckworth: it's all part of it isn't a you know, and so this is one of the things in the workplace, that can be so worrying for women.

00:28:48.540 --> 00:28:55.830 Pat Duckworth: That whereas they were like sharp his attack and now they go into a meeting and they worry, then that they're going to forget.

00:28:56.130 --> 00:29:05.670 Pat Duckworth: Some of the words that they needed to say or some of the points that they were going to raise or their name of their line manager or some other embarrassing detail.

00:29:06.150 --> 00:29:15.510 Pat Duckworth: And so, women start avoiding opportunities in the workplace, because they can't talk about the fact that their brains been affected by many apples yeah.

00:29:15.990 --> 00:29:29.310 Kirsty Dixon: that's what I think you know if you if you are open about it, things can be you know you can have adjustments like me that the job that I do now, you know sort of trained doing webinars i've got my notes and if I don't have my notes.

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:35.280 Kirsty Dixon: Because my memory just would not hold the level of information on eating.

00:29:35.910 --> 00:29:38.370 Kirsty Dixon: To me it's just a reasonable adjustment there.

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.390 Kirsty Dixon: yeah I need.

00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.340 Kirsty Dixon: I need a bit of paper.

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:53.910 Pat Duckworth: Absolutely so join us again after the break when kirsty and I will be talking about the steps the very practical steps that employers can take to support women that menopause see after the break.

00:31:57.450 --> 00:32:11.430 Pat Duckworth: Welcome back to the hot women radio show empowering women leaders at menopause and we need to empower women leaders in the workplace, so that they can give their best because we've got all these experienced knowledgeable women.

00:32:11.760 --> 00:32:27.810 Pat Duckworth: And we don't want them disappearing during menopause so my guest today is kirsty Dixon who works at the University of New York where she's been leading a menopause initiative so kirsty what was the first step, you took when you started this initiative.

00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:31.980 Pat Duckworth: You need to unmute.

00:32:35.280 --> 00:32:43.230 Kirsty Dixon: There we go So the first thing that I did was our HR leadership team senior leadership team, I had a chat with them.

00:32:44.910 --> 00:32:46.410 Kirsty Dixon: To obviously.

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:53.310 Kirsty Dixon: Make today was done on board, which I absolutely hundred percent was to the locker and.

00:32:54.510 --> 00:33:04.590 Kirsty Dixon: What they saw was the real sort of business needs etc what what what what impact, did they you know, did they want any sort of initiatives to to have an.

00:33:05.670 --> 00:33:14.670 Kirsty Dixon: idea we've got medicals guidance so obviously I really familiarize myself with that and and I got that.

00:33:15.690 --> 00:33:27.570 Kirsty Dixon: Data what what are my cup of what is that makeup of staff and we've actually got over 50% of us have a female and our.

00:33:28.590 --> 00:33:44.910 Kirsty Dixon: 700 of those sit in that typical bracket which you know Stacy you've got 700 people at least knew who potentially are going to benefit from this, not to mention all those that aren't going to personally experienced it but but may do and through others.

00:33:47.460 --> 00:34:00.480 Kirsty Dixon: I did a survey, and that was really eye opening I sent a survey out at three o'clock on a Friday afternoon thinking i'm not going to get any much of a responsible time I finished two hours later, I thought you had 86 people reply.

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.490 Pat Duckworth: To those fantastic.

00:34:02.490 --> 00:34:03.390 Kirsty Dixon: response was.

00:34:03.690 --> 00:34:15.030 Kirsty Dixon: amazing and within a week only owned it for a week, because this was part of my apprenticeship project I couldn't do it too long, I have it open for a week and, in that we found over 197 people complete that.

00:34:17.190 --> 00:34:18.660 Pat Duckworth: Men and women or.

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:22.920 Kirsty Dixon: Men is only about 8% what were what.

00:34:24.120 --> 00:34:25.380 Kirsty Dixon: were made or.

00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:30.120 Kirsty Dixon: People who I didn't identify as female non binary.

00:34:30.510 --> 00:34:34.500 Kirsty Dixon: In you know not to specify, etc.

00:34:37.410 --> 00:34:53.610 Kirsty Dixon: But the initial question throw around what sort of knowledge is out there, how confident, would you be supporting somebody if your manager how comfortable, would you be managing somebody and some of that information, which was really helpful.

00:34:54.930 --> 00:35:07.740 Kirsty Dixon: From now after analyzing it and breaking it down I held three focus groups to drill down a bit more, because obviously I was going to be delivering training, I wanted to make sure that I was delivering what was what was needed.

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:12.000 Kirsty Dixon: And through all that.

00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:26.100 Kirsty Dixon: concluded there I would run a general let's talk mentor pool session for anybody to sign up to and separate one for managers so for managers to.

00:35:26.670 --> 00:35:39.060 Kirsty Dixon: Now, obviously talks a lot more about just how to have a conversation that shouldn't shouldn't getting people to think about what support or adjustments, they could think of you, you know you recommend to staff, etc.

00:35:40.110 --> 00:35:44.670 Kirsty Dixon: So that's basically what happened at the.

00:35:45.750 --> 00:35:51.870 Kirsty Dixon: start that was that was the starting point and then actually designing and delivering those sessions.

00:35:52.560 --> 00:35:57.990 Pat Duckworth: And what response, did you get to those sessions from women and employees.

00:35:59.070 --> 00:36:03.210 Kirsty Dixon: It was adding the response from people who had attended.

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:14.880 Kirsty Dixon: yeah yeah honestly you don't pass and the comments that I got from it actually made me cry, and I mean I cry very easily that you saying is because.

00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:29.850 Kirsty Dixon: Honestly, it was and people who because they'd come on that i've been to their GP and like one person emailed me awake likes i've been to Madrid PM on hrt.

00:36:31.050 --> 00:36:39.300 Kirsty Dixon: people saying that they they didn't realize they lost I didn't feel alone, they felt they could talk about talk openly about it.

00:36:39.930 --> 00:36:46.890 Kirsty Dixon: Might somebody on the group who went straight back to her department and started up a support group for.

00:36:47.370 --> 00:36:55.230 Kirsty Dixon: staff or better polls and then literally within a quarter of an hour she had a people signed up to that, and so you know.

00:36:55.860 --> 00:37:11.310 Kirsty Dixon: That the feedback from it, I mean things like everyone should go on this training, you know and and the Thank you, thank you for starting this conversation, thank you for you know, bringing this topic to life.

00:37:12.540 --> 00:37:14.490 Kirsty Dixon: and trying to break that to vote.

00:37:15.030 --> 00:37:20.250 Pat Duckworth: yeah and and that's so important, because sometimes when you're starting these initiatives.

00:37:21.210 --> 00:37:33.150 Pat Duckworth: You can face a bit of resistance and you might think oh we'll get resistance from anything we shouldn't talk about it, but sometimes resistance comes from other women who say this is personal it's private or even.

00:37:33.630 --> 00:37:40.620 Pat Duckworth: Like from younger women going, why are we talking about this often older women, saying well I didn't have a problem, but I don't think we need to talk about it.

00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:51.090 Pat Duckworth: So i'm not asking you kirsty whether you came across any of that but i've come across that when I taught through organizations and my face of nothing changes until we talk about fear.

00:37:51.630 --> 00:37:59.610 Pat Duckworth: And you know, there are men out there who wants to support not only their women colleagues but women there in relationships with.

00:38:00.030 --> 00:38:10.230 Pat Duckworth: They don't know what to do about it it's affecting them in their performance and so very grateful to know what they could be doing and how they can support their partners.

00:38:10.710 --> 00:38:22.770 Pat Duckworth: But, like you, I found you know what i've done global zoom meetings and i've had people in those zoom meetings and it's not you know they're not in the health care profession, they are working in other.

00:38:23.160 --> 00:38:34.140 Pat Duckworth: You know other fields other areas, and particularly in the media, where people have been putting in the chat box, this is the best meeting i've been to all year.

00:38:34.560 --> 00:38:49.200 Pat Duckworth: You know, thank you for running this meeting, this is really helped i've got loads of questions i've seen a chat box just light up because it's the first opportunity some women have had just to talk about it just to have it acknowledge yeah.

00:38:49.530 --> 00:38:50.610 Kirsty Dixon: Would you are.

00:38:51.720 --> 00:39:01.110 Kirsty Dixon: One of the things that i'm very specific on I mean as as you've gathered I will gladly talk about my medicals no question is too embarrassing I make that very clear.

00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:13.740 Kirsty Dixon: And I made it really clear that people owning needed to talk about their personal experience, if they wanted to there was no no point do I say Oh well, you know this.

00:39:17.580 --> 00:39:20.760 Kirsty Dixon: Is not gonna happen, you know or any of the other sentence.

00:39:22.230 --> 00:39:33.810 Kirsty Dixon: But it is amazing how I started session by talking about my own personal experience, and it is amazing how many people open up and actually you know.

00:39:34.170 --> 00:39:45.510 Kirsty Dixon: You can tell that it's almost a bit of a relief that they've been able to do that and and they want to share their experience and they want to hear what's going on with other people be me and my friend.

00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:53.550 Kirsty Dixon: Jackie we have an absolute scream about it, you know I think we have to remember that we have to kind of keep keep bit of humor about it.

00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:54.120 Pat Duckworth: yeah.

00:39:54.660 --> 00:40:03.960 Kirsty Dixon: We didn't have each other to do that with all other people yeah I didn't have that my goodness, I need to did feel like I was going bad.

00:40:04.500 --> 00:40:12.210 Pat Duckworth: yeah and we need that to know that it's just okay to talk about it and talk about it in the workplace.

00:40:12.570 --> 00:40:24.570 Pat Duckworth: And that message comes from the top of an organization when the top of an organization says, yet we're talking about this go ahead let's run a survey let's do some workshops.

00:40:25.530 --> 00:40:42.330 Pat Duckworth: When it comes from that top level, then suddenly there's that sigh of relief that this is something that we're talking about and it's Okay, rather than little groups forming a possum of organization skills, what can we do we don't know what to do so, you need those allies.

00:40:42.660 --> 00:40:45.180 Kirsty Dixon: When I when I do my the survey.

00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:57.780 Kirsty Dixon: A lot of people I was, I was surprised at the number of people who said that they didn't want to be about men nepal's the further in their career progression.

00:40:59.010 --> 00:41:15.300 Kirsty Dixon: Or that they were seen as being being capable and if we can change that you know with that you know it's great that because people can talk about it and get that support they don't need to feel like that anymore.

00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:16.140 Pat Duckworth: yeah.

00:41:16.170 --> 00:41:26.280 Kirsty Dixon: So that's my aim is to get people feel that they don't have to feel like that that talking about it is OK and it's not going to affect their Korea or anything.

00:41:26.790 --> 00:41:31.860 Pat Duckworth: yeah absolutely So where are you at now with this work at university of New York.

00:41:32.700 --> 00:41:45.450 Kirsty Dixon: i'm still delivering the staff generally, we have a slack channel which again 24 hours hundred and five people signed up and that was only that wasn't even advertised in the university staff digest the coastal staff.

00:41:45.870 --> 00:41:58.380 Kirsty Dixon: That currently has 207 people signed up to it and it's great it's a real sharing of knowledge, some people don't post things, some people do people asking questions, and that in itself.

00:41:58.740 --> 00:42:08.460 Kirsty Dixon: Number people say to me, I feel supported with that you know because they've got somewhere to go once a month or holder hot chocolate CAFE.

00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:25.530 Kirsty Dixon: Which is just to come along for an informal chat, and so we have that i've recently run a session for men only didn't get masses of men come to the sessions and i'm doing another when i'm one of them in in March.

00:42:27.510 --> 00:42:39.390 Kirsty Dixon: we've still got the we still got the guidance there we've got resources we've got a wiki page there's a medicals wiki page on a health and well being page, there is a medical section so.

00:42:40.140 --> 00:42:48.930 Kirsty Dixon: You know there's quite and what people are doing and fills in departments, I know a few departments, now that have got put this in with their well being initiative.

00:42:49.830 --> 00:43:02.280 Kirsty Dixon: Certainly there's there's definitely when you look don't look back a year, this is definitely definitely increased the things that are going on around marathons.

00:43:02.850 --> 00:43:16.290 Pat Duckworth: So just those first steps of like acknowledging it finding out what staff wanted starting to run workshops and it's just sort of run from there and visa they're not expensive things to do.

00:43:17.310 --> 00:43:19.830 Kirsty Dixon: Now, because there isn't you know there isn't a lot of.

00:43:21.180 --> 00:43:26.490 Kirsty Dixon: Everything breaks, a total of it as really hit those pots of money.

00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:30.300 Kirsty Dixon: You know we're doing everything that we can.

00:43:31.380 --> 00:43:39.720 Kirsty Dixon: Obviously, training, that we do deliveries, something that I can do so that's great we've kind of we've got that in House as well i'm still didn't say the manager sessions.

00:43:41.280 --> 00:44:02.490 Kirsty Dixon: So yeah but you don't you know baby steps because quite often people just just having someone to talk to, and if you have into health and state champions, you know that there's somebody that could apply a partner as well just being able to talk quite often is is what people want.

00:44:02.520 --> 00:44:16.200 Pat Duckworth: Just yeah absolutely so join us after the break when i'll be asking kirsty for top tips, and what differences she's notice just from being able to do this work join us again after the break.

00:46:15.120 --> 00:46:26.040 Pat Duckworth: Welcome back to the hot women radio show and powering women leaders at medicals were kirsty Dixon has been talking about how she's been helping women at university of York.

00:46:26.520 --> 00:46:38.760 Pat Duckworth: So kirsty I knew time ago quickly and there's so much that we can talk about, as you know, you've been on one of my courses, where, for five weeks two hours a week we've talked about menopause and.

00:46:39.330 --> 00:46:43.890 Pat Duckworth: 10 hours you think what can you talk about for 10 hours there's a lot to talk about isn't there.

00:46:43.950 --> 00:46:45.990 Kirsty Dixon: yeah still only scratched the surface.

00:46:47.340 --> 00:46:55.290 Pat Duckworth: Still more questions to us anyway, so what differences have you noticed at the university from doing this work.

00:46:56.190 --> 00:47:02.490 Kirsty Dixon: I think, just the fact that people are happy to talk about it and and.

00:47:06.030 --> 00:47:12.210 Kirsty Dixon: yeah, as I say, I think, I think that is the big difference is that people aren't shying away from it.

00:47:13.710 --> 00:47:15.720 Kirsty Dixon: You know it's being talked about.

00:47:17.730 --> 00:47:19.980 Kirsty Dixon: And not socially.

00:47:21.510 --> 00:47:24.660 Kirsty Dixon: You know, I think that is the big difference to sort of people.

00:47:26.130 --> 00:47:29.760 Kirsty Dixon: Coming up to you in the corridor and saying you know it's been.

00:47:31.560 --> 00:47:32.280 Kirsty Dixon: it's.

00:47:33.450 --> 00:47:36.390 Kirsty Dixon: What you've done this makes such a difference to so many people.

00:47:36.870 --> 00:47:37.410 Pat Duckworth: Because.

00:47:37.590 --> 00:47:38.430 Kirsty Dixon: they've got a voice.

00:47:39.300 --> 00:47:47.010 Pat Duckworth: And how about for the managers, do you feel the managers are more at ease now because they've talked about it or they've been told about it.

00:47:48.180 --> 00:47:48.720 Kirsty Dixon: I think.

00:47:51.210 --> 00:48:04.560 Kirsty Dixon: yeah I mean, I think, with with managers who the feedback from the sessions is definitely the young people are to feel more confident to go away and.

00:48:05.100 --> 00:48:17.940 Kirsty Dixon: Look at putting things in place, because you know there's little things that you can do that obviously don't necessarily have to go back go okay we're going to talk about nothing but then approvals now I feel drained and that's what we're going to talk about.

00:48:19.290 --> 00:48:24.270 Kirsty Dixon: Even like you will things like to say to people i've been on menopause training.

00:48:24.720 --> 00:48:30.240 Kirsty Dixon: yeah you know even just putting it in the departmental newsletter.

00:48:30.690 --> 00:48:39.270 Kirsty Dixon: yeah let's let's start a bit in the newsletter on menopause their own really nice subtle ways that you can do it without.

00:48:40.620 --> 00:48:48.030 Kirsty Dixon: feeling like it's in people's face and then, if you do get people who are that little bit more know this is very private to me.

00:48:49.140 --> 00:48:58.650 Kirsty Dixon: But actually wouldn't mind having a read it's also good for them, so I think it has helped managers to to feel more confident in.

00:49:00.420 --> 00:49:08.220 Kirsty Dixon: In those conversations, but then I sometimes they'll say as managers, they you know they have sensitive conversations around other things as well.

00:49:08.580 --> 00:49:20.520 Kirsty Dixon: and obviously the menopause conversation shouldn't be any different which, which obviously is true, I think it does just kind of just having that understanding of it is what makes such a huge difference, knowing.

00:49:20.640 --> 00:49:25.050 Kirsty Dixon: What their staff potentially going through yeah makes such a big difference.

00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:35.640 Pat Duckworth: yeah so what advice would you give to another organization that's right at the start this journey, would you start from the same place again, or what would you say.

00:49:36.450 --> 00:49:44.550 Kirsty Dixon: No, I think I learned and you know doing that groundwork in the first place, find you know find out what people need to know.

00:49:45.300 --> 00:49:57.750 Kirsty Dixon: You know what what do sort of people need to know and don't be scared of it don't shy away from it, it is just another perfectly normal stage of life, like pregnancy you look at mental health.

00:49:58.140 --> 00:50:05.010 Kirsty Dixon: We didn't talk about mental health, who own up to being depressed or whatever, and probably about six years ago.

00:50:05.490 --> 00:50:11.610 Kirsty Dixon: Now, because it's been talked about it's no longer taboo subjects and that's exactly the same thing we're talking.

00:50:12.060 --> 00:50:31.710 Kirsty Dixon: About here so don't shy away from it don't be scared of it, it is a journey starts small because those baby steps of what will build up to make and, as I say, with menopause it doesn't necessarily need to be big thing you know little things can make a huge a huge difference.

00:50:34.260 --> 00:50:43.860 Pat Duckworth: You know mature women what What would you say is the biggest thing for the women that you've worked with what what do they need to do it's really going to improve things.

00:50:46.230 --> 00:50:46.830 Kirsty Dixon: and

00:50:47.850 --> 00:50:57.870 Kirsty Dixon: From a lot of them, I think that they read that educating themselves, and you know just planting that seed to make people go off.

00:50:58.140 --> 00:50:58.830 Kirsty Dixon: No, no need.

00:50:59.280 --> 00:51:12.240 Kirsty Dixon: to train and we can't we can do we can you know we can't do 10 hours of training so it's planting enough to see to give people something to grow with there is so much information on websites you've got your website you've got all the.

00:51:13.320 --> 00:51:18.180 Kirsty Dixon: stuff you know that the sort of balance out even and speak to your GP if.

00:51:18.210 --> 00:51:30.240 Kirsty Dixon: You think you are, you know if you think that this is a possibility http about it get or if you don't want to do something like hey chante do you research.

00:51:32.610 --> 00:51:43.560 Pat Duckworth: Absolutely, and I think it's understanding that there are so many options that if you've already thought about hormone therapy and you're thinking i'm not sure about it.

00:51:44.460 --> 00:51:54.390 Pat Duckworth: doing a bit of research, there are lots of other things, there are changes to your nutrition to your exercise to your lifestyle managing stress.

00:51:54.810 --> 00:52:05.670 Pat Duckworth: Is a huge part of managing menopausal symptoms, a huge part of it, and this is a stage of life, where many women do feel stressed if they're in the workplace, they might be.

00:52:06.030 --> 00:52:13.470 Pat Duckworth: Reaching that point in their career where they're kind of building on everything they've learned and suddenly they're not feeling well and they start to feel stress.

00:52:13.860 --> 00:52:25.440 Pat Duckworth: could be you know you've got grown up kids leaving home or you've got older parents, you need more support, or you know just things are changing and you feel stressed by it, but.

00:52:25.950 --> 00:52:41.670 Pat Duckworth: The hormone changes that happen around menopause can actually raise those levels of the stress hormones and that's why i'm managing your stress in the workplace and in your private life can be a really big contributory factor to feeling well.

00:52:42.120 --> 00:52:48.750 Kirsty Dixon: and actually opening up about it getting that support etc can play such a huge part in that.

00:52:50.610 --> 00:52:54.540 Kirsty Dixon: Because I say just just people, knowing that.

00:52:56.190 --> 00:53:01.020 Kirsty Dixon: That that you're the fact that you suddenly become maybe a bit more forgetful.

00:53:01.500 --> 00:53:04.290 Kirsty Dixon: Is you know you can't help it is normal.

00:53:05.460 --> 00:53:19.440 Kirsty Dixon: So yeah do what you can to to take the stress out of it for yourself and you'll be surprised how many most people I know have actually found their managers really supportive in fact i've not spoken to anyone who hasn't, to be honest with you.

00:53:20.040 --> 00:53:20.730 i'm.

00:53:21.840 --> 00:53:22.950 Pat Duckworth: few times and.

00:53:23.250 --> 00:53:37.050 Pat Duckworth: You know let's face it, there are cases that are going to try, you know where you can see that a manager has got no idea what they're dealing with and it doesn't matter if they're a really big company, you know, the first case that went to employment tribunal.

00:53:37.290 --> 00:53:48.180 Pat Duckworth: Was British Telecom, and the recent case that went to Tribunal was just a a family owned dog food business where the employer.

00:53:48.510 --> 00:54:02.670 Pat Duckworth: said some very unfortunate things, and you know compensation will be payable but think about it, if you end up in tribunal or in court because of what you've said or done or not done in the workplace.

00:54:03.210 --> 00:54:09.870 Pat Duckworth: Then you've got the damage to your brand you've got the time and cost of going to Court you've got.

00:54:10.290 --> 00:54:25.980 Pat Duckworth: Compensation there is no in the UK there's no limits the amount of compensation that could be paid, it could be related not just to salary, but into how personally you've been damaged by what happened your pension rights.

00:54:26.640 --> 00:54:37.680 Pat Duckworth: So, so far, the damages have been fairly low, but that's, not to say they'll stay that way if it ends up with a woman who is in leadership, who get some.

00:54:38.700 --> 00:54:56.610 Pat Duckworth: Who has a problem with our employer about menopause kirsty Thank you so much for joining me today it's been great talking to you, and you know that work that you've been doing at university of York has already made such a difference so let's see what builds on it any last words.

00:54:57.720 --> 00:54:59.820 Kirsty Dixon: Well, just thank you so much for having me on.

00:55:01.200 --> 00:55:02.430 Kirsty Dixon: My favorite subjects.

00:55:03.930 --> 00:55:04.980 Kirsty Dixon: first hour of the day.

00:55:06.630 --> 00:55:17.820 Pat Duckworth: So if you need any more help if you're thinking our organization needs needs to do something if you go to pat duckworth.com, you will see all of the resources there there's lots in the blogs.

00:55:18.480 --> 00:55:25.380 Pat Duckworth: You can pick up a copy of my book of the first chapter of my book menopause mind the gap which are published last year.

00:55:25.740 --> 00:55:33.450 Pat Duckworth: which tells you a lot more about managing menopause in the workplace, it gives you the business case for it, if you think there isn't a business case.

00:55:33.900 --> 00:55:40.680 Pat Duckworth: Trust me there is, and if part of it is that you don't want to lose really experienced women.

00:55:41.190 --> 00:55:51.360 Pat Duckworth: Employees just at the peak of their careers, and you know a lot of that's going on at the moment, go and have a look at menopause mind the gap which will explain it all to you.

00:55:52.140 --> 00:56:04.290 Pat Duckworth: So thank you again my guest kirsty if you missed any of the programs of hot women rock you can go back and find us on talk radio dot nyc forward slash hot women rock.

00:56:04.800 --> 00:56:21.060 Pat Duckworth: Stay tuned today where our next program is the amazing Reverend Dr tlc dismantle racism program and stay she's talking about meditation as a rule to dismantle racism and her guests, the sister daughter jenna.

00:56:21.630 --> 00:56:31.230 Pat Duckworth: And you know and the Reverend carolyn wilkins so she's got some great guests coming up next week my guests, will be a Varna family from.

00:56:31.800 --> 00:56:45.030 Pat Duckworth: Italy who's going to be talking about relationships, many thanks to my producer today kyle and we will see you next week on the hot women rock radio show empowering women leaders at menopause see then.

‍