International Men's Day:
The Future Is Everyone:
Men, Menopause and Work
By MICHELLE A. HARDWICK
The Future Is Everyone: Men, Menopause and Work
This year, International Men's Day falls on Thursday 19 November, and the global theme is "The Future Is Everyone", a call for men and women to build things together.
I can't think of a better description of what workplace menopause support needs.
Menopause at work is still too often treated as a women's topic with women's solutions. A policy. A network. A leaflet. All of it matters. But when only half the room is part of the conversation, something important is missing: the male colleagues, managers and leaders who want to help and don't know what to say.
Why silence reads as indifference
Many of the men who've shared their stories with me aren't uncaring at all. They're worried about getting it wrong. So they say nothing and to the colleague on the receiving end, silence can look a lot like not caring. Multiply that across a team and a good working relationship slowly goes quiet.
What "everyone" looks like
- Managers of every gender who know how to start the conversation: ask, listen, adjust.
- Men as allies, not bystanders. That can be as simple as asking "what would help?" and believing the answer.
- Colleagues who understand that someone may be supporting a partner through menopause and needs understanding too.
- A culture where nobody has to whisper about what they're going through.
None of this needs a big budget. It needs a shared language and a little practice.
At home, as well as at work
The same is true at home. If you haven't read it yet, Why International Men's Day Matters for Menopause Conversations goes into this side of it. And on the day itself I'll be hosting a free book reading and sharing circle for men at Cobh Library, 11am to 12.30pm. Details and booking here.
If your team could use this conversation
The sessions I run for organisations aren't lectures. At their best they're a room where people finally say the thing they've been wondering and nobody flinches. If you'd like to bring that to your team, take a look at the corporate workshops and speaking page.
And if you're looking for support yourself, or for the two of you, you can find out how to work with me here.
Want to go deeper?
“Are You Ready to Be Her Wingman?” is a free 10-page guide drawn from the book. Five themes, a self-assessment and real quotes from the men. Sign up here for your free copy.