The University of Aberdeen is undertaking a new study looking at the menopause and the workplace. It will examine the scale of the mental health impact on women and what support and new policies are needed.
The announcement was tied to a case study of a woman from Aberdeen who successfully sued her place of work for unfair dismissal and harassment after being told she used the menopause as an excuse for everything.
If you went back even ten years, issues like the menopause were rarely, if ever, discussed in the workplace.
But if you look at businesses in Scotland now, many have already implemented menopause policies to better understand and support employees.
And this support extends to many other areas too.
Mental health first aid training courses are now widely available and are becoming something that employers do as standard alongside first aid training. Having an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policy is also now considered best practice.
I think the story of the Aberdonian woman who sued her employer is a prime example of why it’s important to have the right policies and support in place.
Investing in understanding your staff better and having the tools to support them will ultimately result in a happier workforce and increased productivity.
Not taking the time to better understand their employees’ struggles has been a costly mistake for this Peterhead engineering firm, which had to pay out £37,000.
This also isn’t just a one-off case that’s unlikely to happen again. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued new guidance back in February which stated that employers could be sued for disability discrimination if they fail to make reasonable adjustments for women going through menopause, amid concern over the number of women leaving their jobs due to symptoms.
There’s a very good chance we’ll see more cases like this if employers don’t look to implement robust policies around the menopause. Hopefully this new study from the University of Aberdeen will prove to be useful guidance for businesses.
It’s also important for workplace policies to be regularly refreshed and reviewed to ensure they’re fit for purpose.
Take EDI policies for example. It’s often expected that businesses should have an EDI policy, but it has to be properly considered and executed – not just implemented to tick a box so you can say you have one.
I came across an interesting UK Government report published by an independent Inclusion at Work Panel which found employers aren’t properly equipped to implement EDI policies that are based on evidence, and are resorting to ineffective, polarising practices.
Workplaces are spending a lot on EDI initiatives but obtaining poor results, and have a low understanding of what works and what doesn’t. The report also found that in some cases, particularly related to positive discrimination and protected beliefs, EDI interventions are proving to be counterproductive or even unlawful.
The report is a useful tool for businesses to help shape their policies as it lays out the evidence for good and bad EDI practice and helps them to make fairer, more effective EDI decisions that represent proper value for money.
When executed properly, there’s clear evidence that EDI polices can have a positive impact. The CII’s 2023 Corporate EDI survey found that practices such as EDI training that goes beyond compliance requirements, attracting talent from underrepresented groups and collecting diversity data led to positive outcomes – including improvements in creativity and innovation as well as increases in employee engagement levels. All of this will ultimately have a positive impact on productivity and help to retain staff.
As always in business, having a clear strategy and proper investment from the get-go is essential if you want to reap the benefits.
After months of buildup, it felt like 152nd Open at Royal Troon was over in the blink of an eye.
And whilst I didn’t manage to make it along to the links myself, it was a joy to hear about the swathes of international visitors who travelled to Scotland in the name of golf.
I couldn’t help but be impressed by the way local businesses in the area adapted to accommodate the huge increase in footfall over the course of the week-long event.
Take Ayrshire-based hospitality operator Buzzworks, for example. As well as temporarily extending its opening hours at its bars and restaurants in the area, it also introduced a range of new menu items that showcased the very best produce Scotland has to offer. In addition, it provided extra training to staff ready for the visitor boom.
That’s the sort of Scottish hospitality that we want visitors to enjoy when they come here.
Providing a warm welcome and good service is just as important as providing a quality product, so it’s essential that business owners equip their people with the best tools and training.
Sometimes it can be easy to forget that the benefits of huge events coming to Scotland are not just short-term.
They help provide an exceptional opportunity to help continuously improve skills that will benefit the business well into the future.
A huge well done to businesses across Ayrshire who really did us proud.
It Made Me Laugh
It Made Me Laugh
Have you ever experienced a night out in 2D?
If you’re looking for a late-night spot that doesn’t fall flat, the ‘world’s first 2D speakeasy’ bar has just opened in Glasgow.
The new Finnieston bar looks like it’s been plucked straight out the music video for A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’, but in fact pays homage to the popular 2D cafés found in South Korea, using a quirky cell-shaded art style to create the illusion of a two-dimensional environment.
What’s more, it boasts an exciting cocktail menu complete with colour-changing drinks and unique, clear concoctions that are designed to trick the palette.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this new spot quickly becomes a firm favourite with cocktail fans, art lovers and 80s music fanatics alike.
It Made Me Weep
It Made Me Weep
Despite manufacturing one of the world’s favourite whiskies, it seems like Diageo’s luck has gone from bad to worse.
The Johnnie Walker giant has reported its first annual sales drop since the pandemic, after shares in the company slumped.
Investment platform AJ Bell claims management has “taken its eyes off the ball” while monitoring inventories and consumer trends, but Diageo’s CEO insists the company is in fact “well positioned” to take on any consumer rebound.
I’m interested to see what sort of impact this has on Diageo in the long term. While it’s clear there remains some uncertainty in the drinks market, I’m confident its world-class portfolio and significant market share will help carry them through.
