A mother who faced a “nightmare” in the workplace hopes new research will help women be treated more fairly.
Karen Farquharson, who previously won a £37,000 payout from aquaculture supplier Thistle Marine for unfair dismissal and harassment due to menopause discrimination, is calling for better workplace support for women experiencing menopause.
Farquharson, an office manager at Thistle Marine until her resignation, faced dismissive comments from managing director Jim Clark, who referred to her menopause issues as “aches and pains.” The tribunal heard that Clark’s remarks violated her dignity, leading to her successful claim last year.
“Work-wise I just felt that I couldn’t cope anymore,” Farquharson said. “I just didn’t know who I was.”
The new study, involving the University of Aberdeen, is looking at the scale of the mental health impact on women and what support and new policies are needed.
“It just came crashing down, I didn’t actually think I was a real person anymore,” Karen told BBC Scotland News.
“The brain fog and the anxiety. Driving became a nightmare. Being in social situations became worse.
“I was suicidal. Especially during the tribunal process. That was just the worst thing I’ve ever gone through.”
Karen is now taking part in the research project aimed at better understanding the mental health impact the menopause has on women.
Dr. Lucky Saraswat, a consultant gynaecologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and advisor to the Scottish government on women’s health, is involved in the study. She highlighted the need for employers to address mental health issues related to menopause more effectively.
“Mental health was always less addressed compared to physical health,” Dr. Saraswat said. “Knowing that some of our physiological conditions can also impact mental health, we can’t ignore it for too long. There needs to be more work and funding for research, and this should be incorporated into government policies. Employers should be aware.”
Dr. Saraswat emphasized that many women feel unable to discuss their menopause symptoms with their employers, despite being valuable members of the workforce. “They have a lot of experience, knowledge, and skills. We don’t want to be losing them from the workforce,” she added.
