How menopause can affect women at work

What is the menopause?

Menopause occurs because as you age, your ovaries stop producing eggs and make less oestrogen, causing your periods to stop. Usually, it happens between the ages of 45 and 55 - but it can happen earlier or later.

Of the 13 million people affected by menopause in the UK, 75% will experience negative symptoms. A quarter of women who experience menopause describe the symptoms - which can include hot flushes, difficult sleeping, low mood or anxiety, and problems with memory - as severe¹.

With these challenging symptoms potentially lasting for years, it's no surprise that the menopause can have a serious impact on women at work.

A 2021 survey of 2,000 women found that almost a quarter had left their jobs because of the menopause.

The research also found that, of those who suffered ill-health as a result of the menopause, around one in five said they were not given a pay rise or promotion. Shockingly, 13 percent said they had had to go through a disciplinary procedure.

Despite this, the UK Government has rejected calls for a trial of menopause leave for women, claiming that it could cause discrimination against men with long-term medical conditions. Ministers also rejected a recommendation to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act.

The report comes as a poll suggests healthcare for women in the UK is as bad as Kazakhstan. Britain ranked lower than the US, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany in the 2021 Hologic Global Women’s Health Index².

A separate study of 2,400 people working in finance in the UK found that a quarter of employees going through the menopause said their experience made them more likely to retire early. Also, just one in five of women and transgender men said they had disclosed their menopause status at work, for fear of stigma³.

Kate Usher, a menopause specialist and gender equality consultant, said going through the menopause had a significant impact on her work.

"I found work relationships extremely challenging," she says. "I would have to explain why I was sweating profusely or forgetting my words. I had to face my own discomfort when talking about it, and at the same time manage other people's. I had to learn on the job - so to speak - about how to talk about menopause and take control of the situation."

How the menopause affects women at work

Impact of symptoms

Experiencing menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on women at work. They can include hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, palpitations, headaches, dizziness, muscle aches and changes to body shape and skin.

Menopause also affects people's mental health too, triggering changes to mood and problems such as brain fog.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 people, around six out of ten working women between the ages of 45 and 55 said the menopause had a negative impact on them at work⁴. Around seven in ten said they were less able to concentrate, while more than half around six in ten said they felt more stressed.

Stigma

The problem is made worse by stigma surrounding the menopause transition. Despite it being a natural part of life, menopause has long been a taboo subject. Due to a lack of information and a culture of silence, many women don't tell anyone they are experiencing the menopause over fears they'll be discriminated against.

Rachel Suff, senior policy adviser for the CIPD, which has carried out research into the impact of menopause at work, says more needs to be done to support women.

"It's likely that nearly every workplace in the UK has someone experiencing the menopause right now but many managers are in the dark on how best to support them," she says. "Rather than it being a workplace taboo, line managers should be ready to treat the menopause like any other health condition and have open, supportive conversations with women in their teams."

How to cope with menopause at work

If you're struggling with menopause symptoms at work, it's important to speak to your manager about making reasonable changes, such as moving your desk to a cooler area or arranging flexible working.

Taking regular breaks can help with symptoms such as exhaustion and problems concentrating. If the symptoms are severe or having a serious impact on your day-to-day life, you may be able to request leave due to ill health.

Menopause and the law

The menopause is not a specific protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. However, if you are put at a disadvantage and treated unfairly because of your menopause symptoms, this could be discrimination if it is found to be related to a 'protected characteristic' such as age, disability, gender reassignment, or sex.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice can provide advice and support.

Employers should make sure they have steps, procedures and support in place to help staff affected by the menopause.

Further reading

1. NHS England: Menopause in the workplace.

2. Hologic: Global Women’s Health Index.

3. Benenden Health: National health and wellbeing at work report.

4. Fawcett Society: Menopause in the Workplace: Impact on Women in Financial Services