Aberdeen City Council signs pledges to support women through pregnancy loss and menopause

By Kirstie Topp

November 22 2022, 11:45 am

The two pledges will help to ensure support is given to Aberdeen City Council staff working at Marischal College and across the city. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson

Female council employees are to be given greater support when dealing with pregnancy loss and menopause.

Elected members of Aberdeen City Council have pledged to do more to improve the well-being of women who make up 70% of its workforce.

The local authority currently employs around 8,000 staff, of which 6,000 are female.

Hopes Aberdeen council pledge will help to reduce the stigma around menopause

Issues around women’s reproductive health are frequently considered difficult to talk about and are often misunderstood by those not suffering from the same issues.

Charity Wellbeing of Women has found many feel forced to reduce their hours at work, pass up promotions and even quit their jobs due to lack of menopause support.

In order to address this the charity is asking employers to sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge – which has now been done by the local authority.

It has also been signed by the Scottish Government, the House of Commons and the Civil Service.

Important to support council staff suffering from menopause

SNP councillor Gill Al-Samarai said: “Awareness around menopause has been raised considerably over the last couple of years.

“But for some women, it’s still a debilitating illness and it’s important that we recognise that, we are adaptive to that and we are supporting staff as much as we can.”

The staff governance committee also agreed to sign the Pregnancy Loss Pledge run by the UK charity Miscarriage Association.

With around one in four pregnancies resulting in miscarriage, it is likely every workplace will employ someone who will at some point suffer.

Aberdeen Labour's Kate Blake and fellow Kingswells, Sheddocksley and Summerhill councillor, David Cameron of the SNP, at the election count. Picture by Scott Baxter/DCT Media. — Aberdeen Labour councillor Kate Blake. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

By signing this pledge Aberdeen City Council has committed to “show empathy and understanding” towards workers and their partners who may be dealing with pregnancy loss.

They have also agreed to allow staff to take sufficient time off and to support them upon their return to work.

Labour councillor Kate Blake said: “This is an incredibly important issue and I’m glad it’s being raised.

“As someone who has suffered a miscarriage themselves I’m really pleased that the council is recognising this.”

You can watch the meeting here.