I was really pleased to be invited by the Cabinet Office Equality Hub and Federation of Small Businesses to take part in their virtual roundtable on workplace support for women’s reproductive health, including the menopause.

As a neurodivergent Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Chartered Scientist, my specialisms in identity, neuroinclusive workplaces, and neurodivergence are closely related to this discussion.

Diagnosing or discovering neurodivergence often coincides with menopause when masking becomes harder and cognitive processing issues arise, impacting women significantly in the workplace. Employers would benefit from understanding this overlap, as reproductive health support can also enhance neurodivergent support.

It was great to discuss the measures small businesses are taking to help employees with reproductive health issues. We explored crucial topics such as:

Current measures and initiatives in place to support women experiencing reproductive health issues.
The success of these measures and whether their impact has been evaluated.
What more could be done, and any additional support businesses would like to offer.
Challenges faced in providing support.
Use of external resources and knowing where to look for support.
What additional resources and support might be helpful for businesses.

This roundtable is part of a larger effort to understand what support is out there, where the gaps are, and what women find most effective at work.

I’m grateful for the chance to share insights and learn from others. Together, we can highlight best practices and develop resources to promote good employer practices.