Understanding and supporting employees through various life stages is essential for creating an inclusive environment. One significant life transition that affects nearly half the world’s population yet remains underacknowledged in professional settings is menopause.
Menopause is a natural process that impacts women typically in their late 40s or early 50s, with the average age being 51. Some women may experience early menopause (before 45) or premature menopause (before 40) due to various factors including medical conditions, surgeries, or cancer treatments.
Women over 50 represent an increasingly significant portion of the workforce. Many hold senior leadership positions, with over 30% of senior leadership roles now occupied by women. Women constitute 70% of the global healthcare workforce and 50% of all university teachers. Supporting these valuable employees through menopause is not just compassionate, it’s smart business.
How supporting menopause benefits everyone
The symptoms of menopause can significantly affect workplace performance in ways that many organisations fail to recognise. Hot flushes, sleep disturbances, joint pain, and emotional changes can make daily work tasks challenging. Without proper support, these symptoms may lead to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism.
Research consistently demonstrates that organisations providing appropriate menopause support reap significant benefits:
- Talent retention and recruitment. When experienced employees leave due to inadequate menopause support, organisations lose valuable institutional knowledge and face substantial replacement costs. Creating supportive environments helps retain skilled professionals at the peak of their careers.
- Enhanced productivity and reduced absenteeism. Workplace adjustments such as flexible scheduling, temperature control options, or focus-friendly environments can help women manage menopause symptoms more effectively. Implementing simple changes can help to increase productivity and reduce levels of absenteeism.
- Increased diversity in leadership. Supporting women through menopause helps maintain gender diversity in senior positions, bringing valuable perspective and experience to leadership teams.
Creating a supportive environment
Effective menopause support doesn’t require radical workplace transformation. Consider these practical approaches:
- Foster a supportive culture. Remove stigma by normalising conversations about menopause. Encourage open dialogue and ensure managers are equipped to have supportive, confidential conversations.
- Implement practical workplace adjustments. Consider temperature-controlled environments, access to drinking water, rest areas, and flexible scheduling options. These simple adjustments can make a significant difference.
- Provide education and resources. Offer menopause awareness training for all staff to increase understanding. This helps create an environment where colleagues can be supportive and women feel comfortable discussing their needs.
As awareness grows, progressive organisations recognise that supporting employees through menopause is both the right thing to do and a sound business decision. By implementing appropriate policies, fostering open communication, and making reasonable adjustments, businesses can retain valuable talent, maintain productivity, and create truly inclusive workplaces.
Our “Supporting Women Experiencing Menopause in the Workplace” course provides comprehensive training to help organisations understand menopause, implement effective support strategies, and conduct supportive conversations with employees. Through practical guidance and evidence-based approaches, this training equips your team to create a workplace where everyone can thrive, regardless of life stage.
