Each November, workplaces across Australia and around the world transform, as stubbly upper lips evolve into impressive moustaches.
Movember is more than a moustache-growing competition; it’s a global movement for men’s health, drawing attention to critical issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.
The workplace is a powerful platform for Movember because it reaches men where they spend much of their time, allowing colleagues to raise awareness together in a supportive and familiar space.
“Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 4.5 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. A growing number of men – around 10.8M globally – are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Globally, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day.” Movember funds groundbreaking projects all over the world, engaging men where they are to understand what works best and accelerate change.
Thanks to Movember for these facts
“Being faced with the reality of a life-threatening illness is both terrifying and illuminating. It quickly tells you where your priorities truly lie whilst also uprooting any sense of stability you thought you had in your life. It is unsettling and unnerving.
The one thing you need from any employer in that moment is the stability that you are missing.
You need confidence and assurance that there is at least one part of your life that is sure and steadfast. That – no matter what happens – your workplace will be there, and you don’t need to waste any time or energy worrying about the impact of your illness may have.
For an employer, there is a big difference in saying the right thing and doing the right thing. Unfortunately, my personal experience was not a positive one. Whilst I was told at a high level, “we are a flexible and supportive business, we will figure it out”. It quickly became apparent that assumptions were being made, and opinions were being formed about the potential impact my illness was having and potentially going to have on my ability to execute my role.
Whilst worrying about upcoming surgeries and treatments, I was also left feeling anxious about the future of my role. Did I even have a future? And as a result, when I returned to work, I pushed myself harder than I should have, much sooner than I should have, to make things better. At a time when I should have been focusing on rest & recovery, I was stressing about work and trying to negotiate a minefield of workplace politics.
Looking back, there are many things I would have done differently, but the primary learning is – find an employer who will genuinely support their people when times get tough. You don’t want to have to wait until it’s too late to find out.”
“It’s important to create space for a conversation around men’s health in the workplace. Causes, such as Movember, can play a critical role in normalising these conversations and shining a greater light on the importance of the health of us as men, and the men in our lives.
It’s not about men’s health above any other gender, but instead about recognising the health needs of men. There’s benefit in creating spaces where people of any gender can show up as allies for men’s health as is the same for women’s health and LGBTQIA+ health. Men’s health isn’t just relevant to men – we’ve all got a father, brother, partner, son, friend, or colleague who we care about in our lives.
Role models modelling work-life balance, normalising health checks and prioritising their health in general are just as important for men, particularly Dads navigating their role as parents in the workforce.
It’s not just about growing a Mo (although the symbol of the Mo is powerful in itself) Some organisations have set up sports clubs (walking, running, cycling) There are many ways you can get involved in raising awareness and funds for Men’s Health. And you can have a lot of fun along the way.”
Check out so many beautiful Moustaches, thanks to Movember.
Movember is a movement to grow more than just moustaches – it’s about growing awareness, support, and action for men’s health. Let’s make a real difference, one Mo at a time.
