A colleague with long brown hair wearing pearl earrings smiling at the camera.

Gwen: Navigating menopause at Royal London

Meet Gwen. She’s the Data Governance & Quality Lead at Royal London Ireland. She’s also one of our Menopause Champions and the co-lead of our Menopause Taskforce.

Our People Promise is that our colleagues will work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. Driving awareness and understanding of menopause is reflective of our proactive approach to putting our colleagues at the heart of everything we do.

Shortly after her return to work after maternity-leave, Gwen soon realised she’d swapped breastfeeding for menopause. Parenthood is challenging on its own, but when coupled with the major changes that occur during menopause, it became an especially difficult time for Gwen.

“I really struggled to cope in work at the time, and I felt like I had nobody to talk to about it. I felt lonely.”

Many women consider leaving their jobs due to menopause, and Gwen felt no different. Thankfully, with the support of a very good doctor, she started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help manage her symptoms. Like many conditions, the symptoms women face during menopause and ways they adapt to them can vary significantly.
"By actively addressing the challenges of menopause head-on, we’re not only supporting our colleagues but we’re setting a benchmark for workplace inclusivity too.”

Supporting our colleagues through menopause

When we shared our plans to launch our menopause support network, Gwen was keen to get involved.

“Royal London now has a Menopause Taskforce, made up of 22 champions, both men and women, dedicated to building a culture where colleagues can talk freely about how menopause affects them and raise awareness of the support on offer.”

Gwen is using her own experience to help others, while continuing to get the most out of our menopause support for herself too.

‘Menopals’ is our online support group run by Gwen and the other Menopause Champions. It’s a safe space to talk openly and anonymously. From a monthly session in 2022 with five attendees, the group has grown to an active online community of over 200 colleagues.

At the monthly sessions, attendees talk about topics such as fatigue, hair-related problems, non-HRT remedies, surgery and more. Colleagues are also invited to speak about issues affecting them, share stories and ask questions. 
“Our Menopause Taskforce and Menopals symbolise our commitment and proactive approach to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment."

Gwen is a proud Menopause Champion and is happy to have been given the opportunity to co-lead our Menopause Taskforce. Her goal is to help reassure colleagues struggling with menopause.

“I want to encourage colleagues to apply for that promotion or support them in asking for reasonable adjustments. Or perhaps, I can just be there for a colleague who needs a quiet, confidential chat with someone who’s been through it and who understands what’s going on.”

Women at Royal London

Today, it's more important than ever to champion the work of women at Royal London, at a time when all of society must improve its approach to women in the workplace.

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