Adur & Worthing Councils has adopted a period and menopause policy for staff during World Menopause Month.
The new policy seeks to help staff experiencing menopause and menstrual symptoms. Adjustments and additional support will now be made available for those with symptoms, as well as their partners, and the policy applies to female, non-binary, and transgender staff.
Menopause-awareness training will also be rolled out and the policy recognises that hormonal changes can affect staff at any stage of life and impact their ability to work. It also recognises conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, and pelvic inflammatory disease can make pain more severe.
Adjustments could be made for staff including flexible work hours or changes to uniform. If a member of staff takes time off work due to their menopause or menstrual symptoms, then this will be recorded as the reason for their absence.
The new policy was given unanimous support by the joint staff committee on Monday (10 October). Chair Rosey Whorlow (Lab, Central) called it a ‘really good, comprehensive policy’.
Elizabeth Sparkes (Con, Offington) said:
“For some people, problems with their periods could go from their teens to their fifties so this is very good. You can’t prove you’ve got cramps or a headache but you have to trust staff to be able to come forward with those problems and know they’re supported by a formal policy.”
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