VN Futures launches menopause toolkit
VN Futures hopes the toolkit will help create menopause-friendly workplaces.
In conjunction with VN Futures, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has launched a new free-to-access menopause toolkit, available on their website.
Through a combination of blogs, discussion panel recordings, podcasts, menopause policies and links to useful websites, the toolkit will signpost support and provide resources for those affected by menopause.
There will also be resources for colleagues and employers working with veterinary nurses experiencing menopause, including example policies to help organisations introduce menopause-friendly working practices.
The toolkit has been released as part of an ongoing campaign by the BVNA and RCVS's VN Futures Diversity, Inclusivity and Widening Participation Working Group (DIWP) to create awareness about working as a veterinary nurse affected by perimenopause and menopause.
Alex Taylor, BVNA senior vice-president and chair of DIWP, said: “We strongly believe that all employers should have a menopause policy and put measures in place to ensure veterinary nurses affected by menopause can carry out the job role without feeling embarrassed or worried that menopausal symptoms will interfere with their everyday work life and career progression.
“By working together, both employers and employees can make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to provide a menopause-friendly environment that is inclusive for all.”
The move comes after a recent similar announcement by the British Veterinary Association, who launched an online menopause hub in July to provide veterinary-specific resources to help the profession better support colleagues experiencing menopause and improve staff retention.
The Voice of the Veterinary Profession Spring 2023 survey revealed that just 14 per cent of veterinary surgeons are aware of a menopause policy at their workplace.
Image (C) Shutterstock
Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
