Majority of women with menopausal symptoms have negative experience at work, new study finds

Summary

A new study of 2,185 women aged 40-60 in employment found that 67% of women who experience menopausal symptoms have a mostly negative experience in the workplace, with 27% saying it had a negative impact on their career progression. Those with disabilities or long-term health problems, as well as those who identify as an ethnic minority, are even more likely to have a negative experience. Symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and increased stress levels were reported, and experts advocate a change in culture, support packages and government intervention to ensure menopausal women are properly supported in the workplace.

Q&As

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an important insight into how to create a supportive workplace environment for menopausal women. The article offers valuable advice on how employers can foster an open culture and create flexible support packages to help retain and empower female employees.

👎 This article fails to address the lack of awareness among employers and workplace cultures that hinder the advancement of menopausal women. There is a pressing need for government-led change to require businesses to have menopause action plans.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how a new study has found that majority of women with menopausal symptoms have a negative experience at work, and experts are advocating for a change in culture, support packages, and government intervention.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It's really important to support people going through menopause in the workplace, and it's alarming to hear that so many are having a negative experience.

Me: Yeah, it really highlights the need to create an open culture that allows for honest conversations about menopause, and for employers to provide flexible working arrangements and other helpful adjustments to empower employees to manage their symptoms and workloads.

Friend: Absolutely. It's also important for employers to be aware of their legal obligations when it comes to making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, and to be aware that menopause can be classified as a disability in some cases. Additionally, there needs to be more awareness and education about menopause to ensure that women are getting the help and support they need.

Action items

• Educate and train line managers on how to support employees experiencing menopausal symptoms.
• Create an open culture where discussions around menopause can take place.
• Develop a framework of support backed by policies or guidance to provide individualised support to employees experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Technical terms

Menopausal Symptoms

Physical and emotional changes that occur in women during the transition to menopause.

YouGov

A market research and data analytics firm.

CIPD

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a professional body for those working in human resources and people development.

Ethnic Minority Background

A person who is not part of the majority racial or ethnic group in a given area.

Reasonable Adjustments

Changes to the workplace or job role to accommodate a person with a disability.

Discrimination Laws

Laws that protect people from being treated unfairly or unequally due to their race, gender, age, religion, or other protected characteristics.

Fawcett Society

A UK-based charity that campaigns for gender equality and women’s rights.

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