Karina Todd Calls for Practical Menopause Support at ManufacturingNI Anchor High Summit
Work Life People Founder and CEO highlights the business case for menopause-inclusive workplaces
Karina Todd, Founder and CEO of Work Life People, addressed delegates at the recent ManufacturingNI Anchor High Summit, challenging organisations to move beyond silence and stigma and adopt practical, human-centred approaches to supporting menopause in the workplace.
Speaking to an audience largely made up of male leaders and decision-makers from across Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector, Karina emphasised that menopause is not simply a wellbeing issue but a workplace issue with direct implications for productivity, profitability, employee retention and organisational performance.
Her presentation focused on the need for organisations to move beyond policies and awareness campaigns and implement practical measures that enable employees to perform at their best throughout every stage of their working lives.
Addressing the audience, Karina highlighted the significant business benefits of creating menopause-inclusive workplaces and encouraged employers to view menopause support as a strategic workforce issue rather than a personal challenge for employees to manage alone.
“If organisations want to retain experienced talent, they need to create environments where people can continue to contribute and thrive throughout their careers,” she said.
“Menopause affects not only individuals but teams, managers and organisations. When employers understand this and put practical support in place, the benefits extend far beyond wellbeing. They impact engagement, retention, performance and culture.”
During the session, Karina outlined several key actions organisations can take to improve workplace support, including increasing awareness among line managers, encouraging open and respectful conversations, and ensuring that men are included in discussions around menopause and workplace inclusion.
She also stressed that relatively small workplace adjustments can have a significant impact on an employee’s experience and can help organisations retain valuable skills, knowledge and expertise.
The discussion resonated strongly with delegates, many of whom recognised the growing importance of supporting an ageing workforce and ensuring workplaces are equipped to meet the changing needs of employees.
ManufacturingNI highlighted several key messages from Karina’s presentation, including:
- The importance of line manager awareness and confidence
- The need for men to be part of workplace menopause conversations
- The role of practical workplace adjustments in retaining experienced employees
- The value of open dialogue in reducing avoidable organisational costs and risks
For Work Life People, the opportunity to address leaders within Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector represented another important step in raising awareness of menopause as a workplace issue and promoting evidence-based solutions that deliver measurable outcomes for both employees and employers.
Reflecting on the event, Karina welcomed the opportunity to engage with business leaders on a topic that has historically received little attention in many sectors.
“For too long, menopause has been a silent issue in the workplace. Events like the Anchor High Summit provide an opportunity to have honest conversations about the realities employees face and the practical actions organisations can take to support them. When businesses get this right, everybody benefits.”
As organisations continue to focus on workforce wellbeing, talent retention and inclusive leadership, Work Life People believes menopause support will become an increasingly important component of effective people strategies.
The company’s message to employers remains clear: creating menopause-inclusive workplaces is not only the right thing to do—it is a business imperative that supports people, performance and long-term organisational success.
