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The Dr Ben Blog

Blogs by Dr Ben

October 2025.

Dr Ben writes a new Blog at the start of every month for our Man Shed section.

How To Support the Working Woman in Your Life

On my daily commute, I recently read a newspaper story about Government plans to formalise support for menopausal women in the workplace. The report, published as the Employment Rights Bill enters its final stages in Parliament, made me think how glad I am that the needs of perimenopausal and menopausal women in work are being recognised. After all, menopausal women are juggling work commitments with roles as a carer or mother at home, often supporting young children or ageing parents. It is well known that the bulk of family workload often still falls to stalwart women.

Estimates now show one in 10 women in employment have felt forced to quit work because of the intrusive symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.

The Bill may help women stay in work by encouraging small firms to develop a menopause action plan and making it compulsory for larger firms to introduce a formal, structured workplace plan. There may also be a benefit to the economy and, of course, protection of earning status and employment for key women holding society in balance while juggling a career and other responsibilities.

Nowadays, campaigners like Davina McCall have raised the profile of menopause and thankfully, women are beginning to receive proper acknowledgement in law, alongside tailored healthcare, and a protected status.

I believe we need to double-down on the support given to women suffering from even moderate menopausal symptoms because I have seen at first-hand, as a doctor and a husband, the challenges these intrusive symptoms bring. Men sometimes feel powerless to help. As a primary care doctor, I know there are many things we can do to alleviate symptoms, supporting the women in our lives better. This should be made a national high priority.

So to the Man in the Shed, one obvious question arises from all this…
With the Government planning legislation for employers, if your partner is to continue working, what can (or should) you be doing to become more flexible and supportive at home? My advice is to be as flexible as possible and support the needs of the women in your life. This will help you enable them to achieve their goals and mitigate the effects of symptoms which may prove detrimental to their wellbeing and productivity.

Sorry, guys! I’m afraid this means you may possibly get to spend a little less time in your Man Shed. Maybe you can step up and take on more jobs around the house than you’ve been doing previously – and spend a little more time supporting your partner.

Right now though, if you want to be more supportive to the working woman in your life, consider spending a little less time in your Man Shed. You might put in a few more shifts doing the laundry, preparing packed lunches and ferrying the kids to school. Enjoy!

If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on [email protected]

Welcome to The Man Shed and I’m delighted to be your man in it!

My name is Dr Ben Sinclair (please just call me ‘Dr Ben’, everyone does), and I’ve been a GP for nearly 20 years. Bear with me a sec while I shift these spare paint tins and get my laptop set up…

If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed, Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on:
[email protected].

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