Menopause Support in and out of the Workplace

What is your experience of menopause?

The Menopause Support in and out of the Workplace Project will focus on supporting women, non-binary and trans people who experience health issues in peri- and post-menopause to stay in the workplace or to return to work.

- Whilst the focus is on employment, hormonal health support can be given in many ways. In addition to existing workplace provisions we would like to gauge the level of understanding of peri-menopause and post-menopausal health issues by Birmingham, Solihull and Warwickshire citizens - this includes everyone whether they have experienced hormonal imbalance themselves or supported someone. We would also like to know what support women, men, trans and non-binary people already access.

- We would be grateful if you would complete the nine questions below in relation to the menopause. Please also complete the ten demographic questions so we can evaluate how different characteristics affect menopausal health and show the level of diversity of Project participants.

- The information collected will be stored anonymously. By completing this questionnaire you are consenting to share the data collected with the Project Partners: BVSC (Birmingham Voluntary Service Council), DRC (Disability Resource Council) and Salus Fatigue Foundation; and the funders. A Privacy Policy can be found at https://www.bvsc.org/privacy-policy.

- The Project is funded until 2025 by the The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Fund - a joint initiative run by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency and links in with the development of the new Women’s Health Strategy.

- Please share the survey with family, friends and colleagues.

- If you have any questions about the survey please email helenj@bvsc.org

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* 1. Please tell us about your experience of the menopause (tick all that apply).

I have an understanding through my personal experience

I have an understanding though supporting someone else

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* 2. Please tell us about your understanding of menopausal health.

I have some knowledge

I have a reasonable understanding

I have a really good understanding

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* 3. Please indicate any of the following ways you have used to increase your knowledge about the symptoms of menopausal health (tick all that apply)

Talked with friends

Talked with my family

Talked with work colleagues

Talked with medical staff – NHS

Talked with medical staff – private

Talked with complementary or alternative therapists

Used social media (e.g/ Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok)

Used Apps

Joined or organised a peri/menopause community group

Read specialist hormonal health books

Referred to my workplace Menopause or Hormonal Health Policy

Followed Government Initiatives on Health

Watched television documentaries

Attended a community event

Attended a workplace event

Attended training on peri/menopause

Read NICE ((National institute for Health and Care) guidelines

Visited the NHS website

None of these

Would you like more of any of the above, or have you found information through any other resource (please specify)

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* 4. Please tell us how informed you are regarding the use of the following in relation to menopause symptoms

	Have no awareness	I am somewhat aware	I am aware	I am very aware
Complementary/Alternative Therapies	Complementary/Alternative Therapies Have no awareness	Complementary/Alternative Therapies I am somewhat aware	Complementary/Alternative Therapies I am aware	Complementary/Alternative Therapies I am very aware
Counselling	Counselling Have no awareness	Counselling I am somewhat aware	Counselling I am aware	Counselling I am very aware
Diet/Nutrition - including alcohol	Diet/Nutrition - including alcohol Have no awareness	Diet/Nutrition - including alcohol I am somewhat aware	Diet/Nutrition - including alcohol I am aware	Diet/Nutrition - including alcohol I am very aware
Exercise and movement	Exercise and movement Have no awareness	Exercise and movement I am somewhat aware	Exercise and movement I am aware	Exercise and movement I am very aware
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)	HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Have no awareness	HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) I am somewhat aware	HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) I am aware	HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) I am very aware
Lifestyle changes	Lifestyle changes Have no awareness	Lifestyle changes I am somewhat aware	Lifestyle changes I am aware	Lifestyle changes I am very aware
Pelvic floor health	Pelvic floor health Have no awareness	Pelvic floor health I am somewhat aware	Pelvic floor health I am aware	Pelvic floor health I am very aware

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* 5. How comfortable are/were you about talking about menopausal health?

	Don’t feel comfortable to talk	Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	Feel comfortable to talk	Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your partner (if you have one)	With your partner (if you have one) Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your partner (if you have one) Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your partner (if you have one) Feel comfortable to talk	With your partner (if you have one) Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your family	With your family Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your family Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your family Feel comfortable to talk	With your family Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your close friends	With your close friends Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your close friends Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your close friends Feel comfortable to talk	With your close friends Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With other friends	With other friends Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With other friends Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With other friends Feel comfortable to talk	With other friends Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your GP or other health care professionals	With your GP or other health care professionals Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your GP or other health care professionals Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your GP or other health care professionals Feel comfortable to talk	With your GP or other health care professionals Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With other people with lived experience in hormonal health support groups	With other people with lived experience in hormonal health support groups Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With other people with lived experience in hormonal health support groups Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With other people with lived experience in hormonal health support groups Feel comfortable to talk	With other people with lived experience in hormonal health support groups Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your work colleagues	With your work colleagues Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your work colleagues Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your work colleagues Feel comfortable to talk	With your work colleagues Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your line manager	With your line manager Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your line manager Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your line manager Feel comfortable to talk	With your line manager Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your HR staff	With your HR staff Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your HR staff Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your HR staff Feel comfortable to talk	With your HR staff Feel very comfortable and talk openly
With your employer	With your employer Don’t feel comfortable to talk	With your employer Feel somewhat comfortable to talk	With your employer Feel comfortable to talk	With your employer Feel very comfortable and talk openly

Is their anyone else you would talk to?

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* 6. Please indicate all that apply to you.

I am currently employed full time

I am currently employed part time

I am self-employed full time

I am self-employed part time

I volunteer full time

I volunteer part time

I am taking time away from employment

I am a full time carer

I am retired.

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* 7. Please tick any of the following that relates to your workplace.

There is a Menopause or Hormonal Health Policy and guidance in place

There isn’t a Menopause or Hormonal Health Policy or guidance in place

There is flexibility in being able to work from home

There are flexible working hours (e.g. late starts / no shift working)

There is adaptability to change the working environment

There is adaptability in relation to wearing specific uniforms

Peri/menopause awareness sessions for all staff are offered regularly

Support is available to access assistive technology to help with brain fog/memory issues

More time is given to complete tasks

More regular breaks are given

Duties are reviewed and alternative duties are offered

Free sanitary products are provided

Is there anything else you would like to add?

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* 8. Do you hold any HR function within your workplace with regards to overseeing the line management of staff?

Yes

Menopause Support in and out of the Workplace

What is your experience of menopause?

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* 1. Please tell us about your experience of the menopause (tick all that apply).

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* 2. Please tell us about your understanding of menopausal health.

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* 3. Please indicate any of the following ways you have used to increase your knowledge about the symptoms of menopausal health (tick all that apply)

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* 4. Please tell us how informed you are regarding the use of the following in relation to menopause symptoms

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* 5. How comfortable are/were you about talking about menopausal health?

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* 6. Please indicate all that apply to you.

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* 7. Please tick any of the following that relates to your workplace.

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* 8. Do you hold any HR function within your workplace with regards to overseeing the line management of staff?

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* 9. Is there anything else relevant you would like to add about your experience of being in peri-menopause or post-menopause?