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Agencies & People

Highlighting the plight of women in property for World Menopause Day

Menopause symptoms can cost women their confidence and careers – and for some, the despair from menopause can lead to suicide.

Richard Reed

Today is World Menopause Day – and campaign group Women in Residential Property (WIRP) is raising awareness to help women in the sector gain support and recognition over the issue.

Panic attacks, tinnitus, mood swings, brain fog, and extreme pain are just some of the many symptoms that can make it near-impossible for women to continue working when the menopause strikes, according to the group.

For many, this costs them their confidence and careers – and for some women despair associated with menopause can lead to suicide. For businesses, the menopause can lead to the premature loss of experienced team members, often at the height of their careers.

WIRP says businesses can benefit from putting more resources into supporting women at this testing point in their lives, and that early and correct diagnosis can help the worst-affected women get the right treatment sooner.

More work needed

Emma Vigus, chair of Women in Residential Property, commented: “It’s clear there are tides of change across the industry, but more work needs to be done to make sure all women – whatever their age or circumstance – get the support, flexibility and opportunity they need to continue working in the property industry.

“In a world where periods are taught at school and there are midwives on hand to support women as they become parents, it’s madness that there is very little support for women going through the menopause.

“It’s never been more important to give businesses the tools they need to be able to support and confidently signpost their colleagues to the right resources.”

Collaboration across property sector

Launched in 2017 by Emma Vigus, WIRP aims to improve collaboration across the residential property industry and ensure that women working in the sector can establish and maintain their professional support network.

The network is designed to appeal to a wide audience of women working across all areas of the residential property sector from estate agency through to surveying and onto mortgage lending.

Sponsored by SDL Surveying, Groundsure, Today’s Media, tmgroup and mio, WIRP has so far raised more than £5,000 for the charity Ella’s, which provides help to women who have been the victims of trafficking or slavery.

Want to find out more? The next WIRP event is a networking lunch on 11 November in London. For more information, you can join the Women in Residential Property Linked In Group or visit womeninresidentialproperty.co.uk.

October 18, 2021

One comment

  1. Personal experience has shown how little understood menopause symptoms affect women differently. Not every woman will suffer similar symptoms however. It’s fair to say men in our workplaces no longer refer to ‘time of the month’ as a reason for an off day; it is now ‘an age thing’!
    It is my belief that education and conversation is key – start with a robust workplace policy in order to prevent any discrimination and effect on sickness absence. Indeed, this is NOT a sickness! All women will face this stage in their lives to a greater or lesser degree. Language needs to change and all members of staff should be included in information communications.

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