What The Fog* 2025 Accelerate Action

Menopause isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a workplace issue, impacting retention, productivity, and wellbeing at the peak of a career.

In 2024 our sell-out event asked: Is menopause a women’s issue or a workplace issue? Should women be given special working adjustments for a natural life event or should they tackle it in private?

Now, join us in 2025 for a one-day programme designed to help you take real action on menopause inclusion — with stories, strategy, and tools you can use immediately.

What The Fog* 2025 brings together senior HR leaders, DE&I champions, people managers, and C-suite sponsors for a one-day deep-dive, taking action to build truly supportive menopause-inclusive cultures.

Let's take the next steps:

• Practical Tools: Policy templates, conversation frameworks, and campaign guides
• Real Stories: Leadership panels from organisations already driving change
• Hands-On Workshops: Actionable sessions on awareness, policy design, medical insights, and tough conversations
• Menopause Fair: Explore expert booths on mental health, nutrition, FemTech, physiotherapy, workplace design, and more
• Roundtable: Closed-door strategy session for decision-makers

Plus, discover how to use the Menopause Work Index (MWI) to assess your organisation’s readiness, and partner with The Menopause Space for next-step workshops and health hub pilots.

Why do we need to accelerate action around menopause?

Menopause is the last taboo of women’s health in the workplace. It naturally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with some women experiencing perimenopause symptoms up to 10 years prior.

That could mean that millions of women either perimenopausal or postmenopausal will be climbing the career ladder into leadership positions whilst experiencing hot flashes, cognitive impairment, poor sleep, fatigue and anxiety.

Breakout Workshops:

Let's put our awareness into practice. In these breakout sessions throughout the day, you'll learn practical steps to support employees experiencing menopause at work.

You'll have a choice of workshop when you complete your order -- these are first come, first served so get in quick!
Virtual attendees will not have a choice of workshop.

Workshop Session 1

How to create menopause awareness at work: Lisa Tarquini

Learn how to create a supportive environment, understand the common challenges faced by menopausal women, and promote inclusivity and wellbeing. This interactive session will empower you to promote understanding and support for women navigating menopause at work.

Workshop Objectives:

• Understand the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of menopause and their implications in the workplace.
• Recognise the importance of menopause awareness in an inclusive and supportive work environment.
• Identify low-hanging fruit and practical strategies to support menopausal employees and promote wellbeing at work.

It’s Not Awkward: How to talk to about menopause at work: Elaine Champion, sponsored by Cathay Pacific

Discussing any health issue is tough, let alone talking about something as unknown and vulnerable as menopause...with a manager! You'll learn tried and tested communication strategies and gain confidence to discuss needs and challenges openly.

By the end of the session, you will be better equipped to advocate for yourself and gain understanding from those around you.

Workshop Objectives:

• Open communication about menopause in the workplace.
• Prepare for and initiate a conversation about menopause-related needs.
• Articulate your experiences and requesting appropriate support or accommodations.

How to balance the human need vs the business need of menopause at work: Moderator Sian Hooper, sponsored by MTR

Explore the balance between supporting individual wellbeing and meeting organisational objectives. We'll discover practical strategies and case studies to create a compassionate workplace culture that improves productivity towards business priorities.

Workshop Objectives:

• Recognising menopause as a key aspect of employee wellbeing.
• Integrate support for menopausal employees into organisational policies without compromising business goals.
• Build open dialogues and promote a supportive workplace culture that encourages engagement.

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Workshop Session 2

How To Design a Menopause Policy: Lisa Tarquini

Get guidance on developing a comprehensive menopause policy. Identify key elements of an inclusive policy, ensure legal and ethical compliance, all while promoting a supportive environment for menopausal employees.

By the end of the session, you will be equipped to implement policies for understanding, flexibility, and wellbeing at work.

Workhop Objectives:

• Build out key components of an effective menopause policy tailored to workplace needs.
• Develop inclusive policies that support while aligning with legal and ethical standards.
• Implement and communicate the policy to maximise buy-in.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to manage the mental impact of menopause: Psychologist TBC, sponsored by Blackrock

FInd out how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help to manage the mental and emotional challenges associated with menopause for yourself or to support others. It can be applied to alleviate symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and sleep disturbances throughout the menopause transition.

Workshop Objectives:

• Identify the mental health challenges commonly experienced during menopause and how CBT can address them.
• Learn core CBT techniques to manage symptoms such as anxiety, mood fluctuations, and sleep difficulties.
• Incorporate CBT approaches into personal self-care routines or support others experiencing menopause.

How to have menopause conversations with your employees, sponsored by OT&P

Develop the skills to openly discuss menopause with employees. Learn how to initiate conversations, create a supportive environment and implement strategies that promote understanding and inclusivity.

Transparent communication and awareness demonstrates empathy in the workplace for overall employee wellbeing and culture.

Workshop Objectives:

• Open dialogue about menopause in the workplace.
• Approach and facilitate conversations with employees about menopause-related needs.
• Develop strategies to create a supportive work culture that values inclusivity and employee wellbeing during menopause.

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Workshop Session 3

Creating Menopause Allyship at work with Menovest: Lisa Tarquini

This dynamic workshop introduces participants to the Menovest experience to fostering menopause allyship in the workplace. Attendees will experience hot flushes by wearing the MenoVest, learn how to become effective allies, understand the importance of supportive conversations, and implement inclusive practices that benefit all employees.

Through the experience of a menopause symptom that can adversely impact a woman’s work performance, senior leaders can create a more compassionate and equitable work environment for menopausal women.

Workshop Objectives:

• Understand the concept of menopause allyship and its significance in promoting an inclusive workplace.
• See how the MenoVest can promote empathy and awareness
• Integrate menopause awareness and allyship into workplace culture and policies.

How to Design Your Workplace to Support Menopause: Dr Christine, M Moser, sponsored by Macquarie

Learn about key considerations and adjustments, ranging from temperature control and privacy to ergonomic adjustments, and access to wellness resources.

Provide a comfortable, inclusive environment that enhances productivity and wellbeing for anyone experiencing menopause.

Workshop Objectives:

• Find practical, physical workspace modifications that can improve comfort.
• Incorporate wellness and support resources into the work environment.
• Develop a plan to assess and enhance workspace design

BUPA-led Workshop - East vs West: HRT or TCM for Menopause Symptom Management