As part of our advocacy to get transparent about Menopause, our Chair, Theresa Gattung, gets candid alongside member Michelle Russell (of Global Women partner organisation ANZ) in an interview with Cherie Howie of NZHerald.co.nz.
We’re on a mission to normalise talking about this transition in the workplace. Alongside our report on the state of menopause conversations and workplace experiences in New Zealand, we’re firm believers that the success of this mahi involves walking the talk.
“Wild horses wouldn’t have dragged that word from my mouth” — Theresa Gattung.
“Wild horses wouldn’t have dragged that word from my mouth”, notes Theresa, who was the CEO of Telecom at the time.
“That’s a shift I think we’ve seen in the last couple of decades. Now, if I was a CEO going through menopause, I’d talk about it.”
“We’re not talking about menopause in our workplaces … the most important thing is that all of us normalise the conversation around menopause,” Theresa shares.
“It’s a win for employers and it’s a win for the country, because we can’t afford to have people not contribute” — Michelle Russell
Michelle Russell, ANZ’s talent and culture general manager, notes the big picture—benefiting individuals, organisations and our nation alike—of this effort. “Keeping women my age in the workforce, who want to be in the workforce, it’s a win for employers and it’s a win for the country, because we can’t afford to have people not contribute,” she notes in terms of retention and wider equality and inclusion strategies.
For ANZ, they note that menopause among the inclusions of their flexible working and sick leave policy, which allows for moments where staff either mentally or physically don’t feel fit to work.
“The diverse nature of work in New Zealand presents some challenges, but I encourage all employers to look at ways to normalise menopause, identify ways to support their female employees, and provide guidance for managers so they can support their staff,” shares Michelle with Cherie Howie.
Read the full interview over on NZHerald.co.nz.