How 5Y is breaking the silence on menopause at 5Y

In honour of World Menopause Awareness Day on 18 October, we recently hosted a dedicated menopause awareness session. The event, which was part of Women's Health Month at 5Y, brought together 18 colleagues to improve understanding, reduce stigma and create a more supportive workplace environment.

The virtual session was led by Clair Large, who expertly guided our team through an informative presentation that covered the fundamentals of menopause, its symptoms and practical workplace support strategies.

Understanding the workplace impact of of menopause

The timing of our initiative couldn’t be more relevant. Current research finds that 13 million women in the UK are currently experiencing perimenopause or menopause, and eight in 10 of these women experience symptoms at work.

Despite their significant presence, studies show that around two-thirds of menopausal women say their symptoms negatively impact their work. The most commonly reported workplace symptoms include poor concentration, tiredness, memory issues, feeling depressed and lower confidence.

These issues can reduce job satisfaction. Almost half (42%) of women consider leaving the workplace completely. This has a big economic impact, with menopause-related issues costing the UK economy approximately £1.5 billion annually due to unemployment and £191 million from absenteeism.

At 5Y, we’re committed to fixing this. We want women to feel empowered and supported, whatever their age, location or position.

A meaningful conversation on menopause, it's impact and support 

Clair’s presentation addressed many of the questions colleagues may have wondered about but felt uncomfortable addressing.

The session covered:

• What menopause actually is
• When menopause begins
• The range of symptoms that can occur
• How companies can provide meaningful workplace support

It also reinforced several principles that extend beyond menopause to the broader workplace:

• You’re not alone. Creating awareness that many colleagues may be experiencing similar challenges reduces isolation and stigma.
• Support each other. Building a culture of mutual understanding benefits everyone in the workplace
• Awareness is fundamental. Education and open dialogue are essential for creating inclusive environments where all employees can thrive.​
• Stop the stigma. By discussing previously taboo subjects openly, we break down barriers that prevent people from seeking the support they need.​

Our employees loved the broad range of topics we discussed. Mariam Jallouq, a 5Y project manager, says:

"The session went far beyond learning about menopause; it offered meaningful life insights into how we sometimes blame external factors for our struggles instead of recognising the deeper root causes. My key takeaway is that awareness is fundamental, not only for being kind to others and ourselves but also for fostering growth and effective problem-solving."

The inclusive nature of the session, and 5Y as a whole, was demonstrated by the participation of 5Y’s CFO, Ross Flanagan, who provided valuable insight from a male colleague’s perspective:

"It was great to be invited to the event today and discuss openly what can be a very personal subject. Hopefully, by educating more people, we can foster a greater understanding between everyone and develop an environment where no matter what the subject is, people feel they can be supported."

Continuing the conversation 

This session demonstrates our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels supported. Open conversations are the first step to broader discussions on wellbeing and the thoughtful actions we can take to make our workplace happier, healthier and more inclusive.

As part of our Women in Technology (WIT) initiative, we’ll use the session’s insights to guide discussions with senior leadership on guidance and recommendations.

We encourage anyone who wants to continue the conversation or learn more about our commitment to an inclusive workplace to reach out to the WIT team on LinkedIn. Together, we can ensure our workplaces remain a place where everyone can thrive, regardless of what life stage they're navigating.