Perimenopause

[amco37]

Are any ladies here in their 40s or 50s going through perimenopause? How do you cope with this job? Especially if joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue, and insomnia are problems. I'm finding it increasingly difficult, especially now the workload seems to have increased.
I am finding there is more mail and more letters or rather more junk for every door. The parcels are also bigger and heavier. Is there a size and weight limit?
Basically, the job has either become more demanding or perimenopause is making me more exhausted.
A trip to the GP and time off on the sick may be in order now. What other solution is there be for a woman going through perimenopause in a physically exhausting job?
Changes are made in the workplace for pregnant ladies so should some sort of adjustments be made for perimenopausal ladies?

[2yearpostie]

Equality act says you have the same work conditions as everyone else, thats just how it works now.

[amco37]

So the only option is to go off sick when it's actually not a sickness, but a normal thing a woman goes through.

[clashcityrocker]

Equality act says you have the same work conditions as everyone else, thats just how it works now.

That is rubbish.
The condition may fall under the Equality Act:
Under the Equality Act 2010, menopause discrimination is largely covered under three protected characteristics: age, sex and disability discrimination. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 provides for safe working, which extends to the working conditions when experiencing menopausal symptoms.

It would probably be a good idea to contact your Branch Equality Officer and see what advice they can offer.

[amco37]

Thank you for that. I will contact them and see what( if anything) can be done as I can't continue in my current situation.
The amount of mail and parcels, especially on Weds, Thurs, and Fri, has gone beyond ridiculous. Is no one else experiencing this increase?
I work to my time every day, but I have to rush to get finished. If I go at a slower pace then I will have to cut off. I simply can't keep up the pace I used to, so it looks like I will have to start cutting off.

[Woody Guthrie]

What Clash says is true however It also depends on how it affects your daily life so you would need supporting evidence from your GP as you would with any condition whether gender specific or not.

The business does not have a blanket position on adjusted duties
because every woman's experience of the menopause is different.

[amco37]

I haven't been to the GP yet. I'm just at the stage of accepting/admitting to myself that it's beginning. But yes, I will eventually go. Blood tests can confirm it.
Women posties haven't been around for that long, so I guess the impact of physically demanding work on perimenopausal women is a new thing.

[trixie]

Menopause is a fact of life. Deal with it. Look for another job and don't make it royal mails problem, they won't care anyway. Workload is heavier because we are lapsing every day, why?.. Because there are too many people like you looking to abuse the sick leave/pay policy. You need a big dose of reality, there are women in Ukraine being raped and there husbands killed who make less fuss

[bennny7]

Thats a bit harsh

[postieblueshirt]

id say there has female posties for many years at least 30 years that i know of.we even had a husband and wife that worked in the same town lol.if there is anything that can be done then they will surely have had experiance in the past with other female posties.

[P13]

Menopause is a fact of life. Deal with it. Look for another job and don't make it royal mails problem, they won't care anyway. Workload is heavier because we are lapsing every day, why?.. Because there are too many people like you looking to abuse the sick leave/pay policy. You need a big dose of reality, there are women in Ukraine being raped and there husbands killed who make less fuss

You should be ashamed of yourself

[trixie]

Why? If everyone went on the sick everytime they had menopausal symptoms, or other 'women's issues' half of the workforce would be missing. There's plenty of options out there for women who suffer and I empathise. All I'm saying is in comparison to what's going on elsewhere in the world minor health issues seem irrelevant

[clashcityrocker]

A colleague came to this forum requesting help/advice.
Compared to what is going on in other parts of the world is everyone's situation not small beer?
Plantar fasciitis - your not being bombed.
High prolactin levels - you haven't been gang raped and buried in a shallow grave.

If, in order to ask for advice, your daily life has to match the barbarity of the war in Ukraine perhaps Postman should consider closing the site.
Alternatively if you haven't got anything constructive to add to the thread maybe you should just f**k off.

[Haditup]

A colleague came to this forum requesting help/advice.
Compared to what is going on in other parts of the world is everyone's situation not small beer?
Plantar fasciitis - your not being bombed.
High prolactin levels - you haven't been gang raped and buried in a shallow grave.

If, in order to ask for advice, your daily life has to match the barbarity of the war in Ukraine perhaps Postman should consider closing the site.
Alternatively if you haven't got anything constructive to add to the thread maybe you should just f**k off.

Well said clash

[amco37]

Trixie...
I haven't been off sick for over two years. No sick leave was taken all through the pandemic as I never tested positive or got covid. Loads of people are off in my office and I AM COVERING FOR THEM BY DOING LAPSING! And my workload has DEFINITELY increased lately. I have noticed a lot more mail and parcels.
I'm usually full of energy and actually enjoy my job. But in the past few months, it has become increasingly harder for me to do due to joint pain, muscle aches, terrible fatigue, bladder issues, and insomnia due to night sweats. As I said, I am normally fit as a fiddle.
Perimenopause is no joke for some people. Suicide rates in perimenopausal women have risen 6% in 20 years. It is a real problem, not a minor issue.
And I'm well aware of what's going on in Ukraine. I have close friends who live in that country. I am stressed every day by what's happening there.
Assume much Trixie.
Your advice: worse things happening in the world. Get over it, find a new job.