Fórsa has welcomed the Department of Public Expenditure’s Menopause Policy framework which mandates all civil service organisations to implement a menopause policy by early 2024. 

Launched this week on World Menopause Day (18th October), the framework mandates every civil service organisation to have a menopause policy in place by early 2024. It offers a list of guidelines and supports for managers to choose from, and provides a blueprint for employers in all sectors. 

In response Fórsa has said it would like to see consistent minimum standards and mandatory supports across all civil service organisations, not varying versions of these policies.

Fórsa also successfully negotiated the inclusion of a checklist in the framework and called for it to be prominently displayed in all workplaces so employees are aware of the range of supports that are, and can be, made available to them if they are going through symptoms of menopause. 

The union said this will further help raise awareness and alleviate some of the stigma that exists for employees when discussing menopausal issues with their managers, or seeking out supports. 

In its submission to the draft policy, Fórsa said the evolving landscape of the workforce necessitated a corresponding evolution in workplace protections and policies. As our workforce changes, so must our workplace protections and policies.

Head of Fórsa’s civil service division, Éamonn Donnelly, who made the submission said: “While we acknowledge the progressive nature of this framework, we believe it can go further by providing safeguards that would grant employees access to the support structures delineated within the framework and guidance document.”

“The efficacy of the support measures laid out by the framework hinges on workers' ability to avail themselves of these measures without fear of reprisal or victimisation.

“We welcome the recommendation of adopting the framework, but it is also imperative that we retain consistent standards to be implemented across each organisation. This will ensure that organisations and managers do not cherry-pick easily implementable supports while overlooking some of the more substantial guidelines and changes that are recommended,” said Éamonn. 

In that respect, Fórsa believes a few key priority accommodations should be made compulsory for every organisation. 

In Fórsa’s 2022 survey on the subject of menstrual and menopausal welfare policies at work, we found that just 1% of employee respondents benefited from such a policy within their workplaces. 

This new policy should increase that number substantially and represents a significant step forward. Fórsa will continue to negotiate and campaign on this issue across all divisions to ensure all members can benefit from this type of policy.