Page 21 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

Preparing
Overall, how problematic have symptoms of the menopause been for you at work?

for

retirement?

Spaces are available on the
West Midlands Police
Federation retirement
seminars.
The seminars are aimed at officers in
the last three years of their service and
hree quarters of women who took
part in the first nationwide survey on aim to prepare them for life outside the
Tgoing through the menopause while Force, financially and generally.
working for the police said they found Among the topics covered by the
menopausal symptoms moderately or facilitators at the one-day seminars will
extremely problematic at work. be:
The Police Federation of England and had been either moderately or extremely l Managing change and uncertainty
Wales (PFEW) carried out the EveryonePause problematic for them at work. l CV writing and interview techniques
survey over six weeks in October last year The survey was open to police officers l Transferrable skills
and has now published the results. and staff with 59 per cent of respondents l Pensions and state pension
“Officers and staff do not feel they can being police officers and 40 per cent police l How do I manage money and these
be open about what they are going through staff (the remainder were in another role financial changes?
and would rather struggle to come into within the police service). l Budgeting
work or take leave instead of report sick. Different questions were asked l Starting your own business
The survey results show that there is less depending on whether respondents had l Taxation
than adequate reporting facilities in forces,” personal experience of the menopause and/ l New horizons (what’s next?)
says Hayley Aley, a women’s lead for PFEW. or had managerial or supervisory l Savings
“We need every force to recognise the responsibilities. l Investments and finances, and
impact that the menopause can have on In fact, 45 per cent of respondents said l Protecting your wealth.
health and just how unwell it can make you that they either had gone through or were The next available date is 15 August
feel – every force should add menopause as going through the menopause while 18 per with further seminars being held on 12
an option in their sickness absence cent said they had managerial September, 17 October, 21 November
reporting fields. responsibilities and 14 per cent fell into both and 19 December.
“I’d like to say that our findings come as of these categories. A further 23 per cent of To book, email
a surprise – they don’t but we now have an respondents fell into neither of these westmidlandspf@polfed.org with
evidence-base to push for positive change.” categories and answered a set of broader ‘Retirement seminar’ and the date you
Key findings were: questions concerning their awareness of the wish to attend in the subject title.
l 76 per cent of respondents who had menopause. Include your name, work and
either gone through or were going One in five respondents said they had personal email address, phone number,
through the menopause said that they considered leaving the Force because they proposed retirement date, number of
had found symptoms of the menopause had found it difficult to deal with the places required and dietary
either moderately or extremely menopause at work. requirements in the email.
problematic at work Only 11 per cent of managers said they 2020 dates
l More than eight out of 10 said that had been trained to support someone going
tiredness and sleep disturbances through the menopause. Dates have now been agreed for the
resulting from the menopause had been And the majority of managers did not West Midlands Police Federation
either moderately or extremely know whether their force had a formal policy retirement seminars next year.
problematic for them at work or guidance on managing the menopause at They are, as follows:
l The majority said low mood and lower work with at least two thirds of them saying Thursday 23 January 2020
Thursday 6 February 2020
confidence as a result of the menopause
they would find it useful to have this.
“ Thursday 14 May 2020
Thursday 12 March 2020
Thursday 9 April 2020
We need every force to recognise the impact that
Thursday 11 June 2020
the menopause can have on health and just how
Thursday 23 July 2020
Thursday 20 August 2020
unwell it can make you feel – every force should
Thursday 24 September 2020
add menopause as an option in their sickness
Thursday 10 December 2020.

As ever, book early to avoid
absence reporting fields. Thursday 22 October 2020
disappointment.
www.polfed.org/westmids federation June/July 2019 21
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