Menopause support at work: how to get it right

Getting menopause support at work right is a long-term, company-wide project. From menopause training to creating a policy, here’s are six steps to success

We all know someone who has been through, will experience, or is currently going through menopause – but what do you really know about how it affects the person experiencing it, or how to create better menopause support at work?

Reproductive health is still a taboo subject in the workplace, yet the effects of the menopause can adversely affect performance. In fact, the careers of an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK have been negatively impacted by menopausal symptoms, according to a 2023 CIPD study.

With just 40% of women aged 50-64 in full-time work in the UK (compared with 66% of men in the same age group), the lack of comprehensive menopause support at work arguably has a significant impact on employers’ ability to recruit and retain older women.

Here, we’ll outline what the menopause is, the common symptoms likely to affect workers, and how employers can offer better menopause support at work. This blog post should not be taken as medical advice; please consult a medical expert if your menopause symptoms are unmanageable or are negatively affecting your quality of life.

In this article:

What is the menopause?

It’s when the menstrual cycle stops because the ovaries are no longer producing eggs. When discussing menopause support at work, it’s important to be clear about the various stages of…