How Grace Molloy’s company is helping more workplaces become menopause-friendly

WA entrepreneur Grace Molloy was baffled at how little she knew about perimenopause when it hit her.

After all, her dad was an obstetrician/gynecologist, her mum was a midwife and she herself has a Masters in nursing and experience as a registered nurse.

After realising that even her circle of friends never “really knew anything about perimenopause or menopause”, Ms Molloy established Menopause Friendly Australia in a bid to raise awareness and provide information on its debilitating impacts.

Co-founded with Deborah Garlick in March last year, the business provides support and accreditation to companies looking to create workplaces that are responsive to the needs of menopausal women.

Its members include Commonwealth Bank, global professional services firm Accenture, BHP, the Parliament of WA, as well as St John WA.

Accounting and consulting group Deloitte in late September was accredited as Australia’s first menopause-friendly workplace.

“Perimenopause and menopause is even a rockier ride than adolescence and it lasts a lot longer yet we don’t talk about it, we don’t know how to have a better time through it,” Ms Molloy said.

She pointed to a recent survey conducted by Menopause Friendly Australia and skincare brand Dove that revealed 45 per cent of women feel they weren’t performing their best at work, while a similar number felt they had lost self-esteem.

Ms Molloy said the statistics were “pretty sobering”.

“Right now, women do still tell us that they fear talking about menopause because they’re worried it will mean that they look like a less desirable worker,” she said.

“We need to approach that with information, education and really re-branding menopause.

“We know that gender equality is really high on the agenda for business, so becoming menopause-friendly is a really practical thing that workplaces can do to . . . promote more women into leadership.”

A recent Senate inquiry into menopause recommended that workplaces develop perimenopause and menopause policies in consultation with their employees. It also recommended that menopausal people have access to flexible work arrangements.

“When you look at the research, leave is not the number one thing that women say would be helpful,” Ms Molloy said.

“The most helpful things that women (want are) flexibility, having a manager that understands menopause . . . and having control over temperature.

“I think women also don’t want to be pushed out of the workplace even more . . . we really need to be looking at adapting our workplaces to be more supportive, rather than simply sending women off to have time out.”

Menopause Friendly Australia recently won the Accelerating Women category at the Telstra Best of Business Awards.

World Menopause Day will be held on October 18.