Menopause at work: how to remove the stigma

How does menopause affect work?

Menopause can have a dramatic impact on a woman's quality of life and in the workplace. Many women face significant obstacles just to find the medical help they need.

According to a study of over 400 women between the age of 50 and 59 by AARP, 42% said they never discussed menopause with a healthcare provider. The research went on to show that only about 20% of women received a referral to a specialist. Finally, the Mayo Clinic studied 183 medical residents and found that while about 94% said menopause training was important or very important, only about 7% felt adequately trained. 

As female employees struggle to manage menopause, employers may not even be aware of the consequences for their workforces: 

Turnover

In particular, women in the workplace already face considerable challenges, even without those associated with menopause. For starters, women face unequal pay. They also face career setbacks when they leave the workplace to start and raise families. Women facing menopause often also care for others (e.g., children, parents), leaving little time to prioritize themselves. Not surprisingly, many simply choose to leave their jobs or the workforce altogether during menopause. A recent study on menopause and work noted that 17% of women surveyed quit a job or considered quitting due to symptoms. 

Productivity losses

For those that don't leave, the challenges can be significant. Women often can't find help, which leads to lost days. That same study found that four out of 10 female employees said symptoms interfered with their work performance or productivity on a weekly basis. And two out of 10 women said it impacted their work either daily or multiple times a day.

How to talk about menopause at work

It goes without saying that employers must keep personal discussions around menopause in the workplace confidential for those affected. Understand that it's a very private matter, and your employee may feel hesitant to discuss it for various reasons, including:

• They may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing their experience with you. If so, suggest someone with whom they might feel more comfortable
• They're worried about how it will impact how they're viewed in the office
• They're concerned about confidentiality, particularly if it involves revealing details about sexual orientation 
• They're nervous about job security

When talking to your employees, you should:

• Let your employee lead the discussion and decide what they do and don't want to share
• Avoid making assumptions about what your employees may be feeling
• Don't share any information without your employee's consent. Let them decide what to share, with whom, who will share it, and when
• Keep a private record of what's discussed

Given the very sensitive nature of the discussions, you should start today by making sure you have at least some members of your HR team (or any other appropriate group) fully trained in all women's health issues.

How can you help employees experiencing menopausal symptoms? 

Knowing that a considerable number of employees in your organization already may be experiencing (or soon will experience) menopause, you should consider several ways you can show the kind of additional support they need: 

• Consider offering specialized menopause benefits, a new offering in the women's and family health benefits space. This individualized approach addresses the clear gap in understanding and can pay considerable dividends with production and turnover
• Talk about menopause openly in the workplace to reduce stigma and close the knowledge gap
• Show flexibility by accommodating adjustments in work hours and allowing for medical appointments
• Allow for more working from home
• Find or create private areas for onsite workers to take breaks
• Encourage workers dealing with symptoms to take the time off they need to stay healthy
• Consider shifting roles and responsibilities during this time to allow employees to manage symptoms and explore treatment options such as menopausal hormone therapy

How Maven supports women's health

Maven is the world's largest women's and family health clinic seeking to provide better quality, inclusive, cost-effective care to women and families. Maven members can tap into 24/7/365 support from virtual providers specializing in women's health and menopause, as well as get access to clinically-approved educational materials and referrals to trustworthy in-person care.

By offering members high-touch care navigation, specialized health care teams, and evidence-based care management programs, Maven delivers the right care at the right time, all within a seamless virtual experience. To learn more, contact us today.

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