SOUTH Yorkshire Police is taking steps to make women officers and staff who are going through the menopause feel more comfortable at work.<\/p>\n
A recent PFEW survey revealed that 76% of police officers and staff who have gone through or are going through the menopause found their symptoms either \u2018moderately\u2019 or \u2018extremely\u2019 problematic in the workplace.<\/p>\n
Nearly half (44%) of respondents said they had considered quitting the police because of it.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent said that was unacceptable.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIf we ever get to that level, then we\u2019ve failed catastrophically.<\/p>\n
\u201cRolling out awareness and training on it should at least put that first tier of understanding there for people, to try and help with any ongoing issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Help and support has been made available to South Yorkshire officers, Steve added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been involved in it, and the force is rolling out awareness training, so they are on it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere needs to be more awareness for managers and supervisors out there in ways and how they can support officers who are obviously going through a difficult time, and what measures they can put in place to help them.<\/p>\n
\u201cA policy, as far as I\u2019m aware, has been drafted and the force is looking at that and rolling that out for supervisor away days etc. It\u2019s encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n