Menopause at work
Menopausal women are the fastest growing sector of the workforce†, so it makes sense for more workplaces to become menopause-friendly
Whether you're going through the menopause at work yourself or want to support a colleague, we're here to offer helpful information and guides
Understanding the menopause at work
3.5 million of Britain’s female employees are aged 50 or over‡ - so it’s likely they’re approaching or experiencing the menopause. Personal stories vary widely, but menopause symptoms can be severe for a quarter of all women††.
In this video, three women talk honestly about their own menopause experiences at work. We hope that what they have to say will be helpful to employers and employees alike.
Patricia: Continuing to work full-time during this episode of my life has been a challenge.
Amanda: Because I started work in a new office, it made me nervous to think that I might be in a meeting and then I'd get a hot flush.
Patricia: I was really questioning what I was doing, who I was. My confidence fell completely, and that's how it started to really impact my mental health.
Sally: The more I taught myself, the more I educated myself, the more I realised that it's not something that we should be keeping to ourselves.
Patricia: The word 'menopause' is not a non-discussed subject anymore, it's just a matter of life.
Sally: The information needs to be available.
Patricia: I had to think about discussing this at a time when I was still coming to terms with it, and discussing it with my boss. So, I looked online and I found a questionnaire that I could complete and I sent him that. But it led to us having some really open conversations and personal conversations.
Sally: So, we're just all in it together really, and we help each other out.
What’s it like to deal with menopause symptoms at work?
Each menopause experience is unique. Some women don’t really notice any menopause symptoms, and some don’t want to be singled out as ‘different’ at work. What we do know is that around three out of five women feel their menopause symptoms have a negative impact on their work‡‡, and one in four consider leaving their jobs†††.
By listening and providing the right menopause support at work, employers can help to make things better − for these women, for their wider workforce, and for the business as a whole.
“I’ve struggled with tiredness due to waking multiple times a night because of night sweats. I have hot flushes in the day. The brain fog is the most frustrating thing when you’re used to clear, sharp thinking but you can’t even remember what you’ve just said to someone.”
Julie, Manchester
Our menopause guide for managers
Explore ways to open up a conversation and to provide practical steps for supporting employees through the menopause. Our guide also includes women’s personal experiences, which help to explain what menopause is like.
Read stories like Julie’s:
“What has helped most has been the understanding of my manager. He performed a risk assessment for me and put things into place which will help. I’ve now got a fan, paid for by the company, and I do feel supported.
“If all managers were this understanding, it would massively help women.”
Our guide to coping with the menopause at work
If you’re struggling to juggle work, the menopause and everything else that’s going on in your life, we’ve got some tips for getting the support you need. That could be from your manager, health professionals, or support services.
Read stories like Amanda’s:
“My main worry was experiencing hot flushes when I was in a meeting. I don't just mean getting hot and going red – but actually sweating and feeling very unfeminine.
“If you're going through the menopause, there are many of us out there. Talk to someone about what you're going through and speak to colleagues. You're not alone.”
Open up conversations in the workplace
Our conversation guide could help you find ways to be supportive.
Print and display a workplace poster
The more people understand, the more women can be supported.
Share our leaflet about the menopause at work
Print or email our handy PDF to help promote wellbeing in the workplace.
Every menopause experience is different. While some women don’t notice many menopause symptoms, others can struggle with a range of physical and mental challenges which can really affect their confidence and their performance at work.
For example, tiredness and difficulty with memory and concentration are common menopause symptoms, and they can affect work. You might feel embarrassed in front of other people if hot flushes cause you to turn red, perspire and feel flustered. Some women experience depression or anxiety.
If you’re experiencing symptoms which genuinely mean you can’t work, it doesn’t matter what the underlying cause is. For example, some severe menopause symptoms include headaches, diarrhoea, joint pain, dizzy spells, heart palpitations or even anxiety attacks.
Menopause is covered under the Equality Act 2010, which protects you when it comes to your sex, age, or any disability. It’s also covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, because you’re entitled to a safe working environment.
More and more organisations are seeking to support people with specific concerns. For example, some have introduced mental health first-aiders for their employees, or are training staff to support customers with dementia. In the same way, some are introducing menopause-friendly workplaces.
It’s important to begin by understanding the menopause, and making it okay to talk about the menopause at work. After that, options could include flexible hours to help women work around their worst symptoms, or later start times for coping with insomnia. Employers might provide a fan for cool air, or alternative uniforms if they’re made from synthetic fabrics.
If you’re an employee, you might feel able to open a conversation with your manager or your HR department. Talk to them about becoming a menopause-friendly workplace and even developing a menopause policy.
A menopause policy is designed to help everyone understand the menopause better, and to support women going through the menopause. A good policy will also provide support for employees whose partners are going through the menopause, as well as the colleagues of those who are.
Having a menopause policy shows that this issue is taken seriously at the highest levels of the organisation, and it sets out ways of providing practical support. If you’re an employer, some good places to start include Menopause in the Workplace, the CIPD (PDF, 0.8MB), Unison (PDF, 0.5MB) and the TUC (PDF, 0.8MB).
More places to find menopause support and information
When it comes to the menopause, there are so many questions − and everyone’s experience is different. So we’ve gathered together more information to help you.
Other websites offering menopause support
My Menopause Doctor
Dr Louise Newson is a nationally recognised menopause expert who is keen to raise awareness.
Menopause Matters
An independent website offering information and treatment options. There are forums, too.
Manage my Menopause
You can fill in a questionnaire and generate online advice from menopause professionals.
The Daisy Network
A website for women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), who experience premature menopause.
Menopause Support
Information and support led by a therapist with nurse training in menopause.
Websites offering guidance for employers
A Practical Guide for People Managers (PDF 1.1MB)
Developed by the CIPD.
Menopause Workplace Guide
Practical help for employers from the Union UNISON.
Guidance on Menopause and the Workplace (PDF 0.6MB)
From the Royal College of Physicians’ Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
Test your knowledge and understanding of the menopause
An interactive tool offered by the TUC.
Menopause in the Workplace
CPD-accredited menopause training plus events, e-learning, videos and best-practice toolkits.
Quick links to helpful pages within our Women’s Health Hub
All about the menopause
Find out when menopause happens, what kind of symptoms you might have, how long they could last, and what treatments you might have.
How does menopause feel?
Some women don’t notice any signs of the menopause, while some may have more challenging physical and/or psychological symptoms.
Bupa Menopause Plan
Not sure if you’re going through the menopause? Need help dealing with symptoms? Talk to a specially trained Bupa doctor and get a personalised action plan.
† Department for Work and Pensions
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/568240/employment-stats-workers-aged-50-and-over-1984-2015 (PDF, 0.3MB)
†† Menopause in the Workplace
https://menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk/menopause-at-work/menopause-and-work-its-important/
‡‡ Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
https://www.cipd.co.uk/about/media/press/menopause-at-work
††† ITV
https://www.itv.com/news/2016-11-23/quarter-of-women-going-through-menopause-considered-leaving-work
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