Serious shift needed to help women speak up about their experience at work
Unsupportive company culture is silencing female employees who are experiencing symptoms of menopause, prompting a call for a "serious shift" within organisations.
A new poll from LiveCareer revealed that 97% of women who are facing symptoms of menopause felt pressured to hide or downplay them at work.
The majority of them attributed this to a workplace culture that does not support conversations on menopause (61%) and to the fear of being judged (61%). Others said this is because they:
- Do not think it is relevant to discuss (33%)
- Have not spoken up yet but plan to (20%)
- Do not trust HR (18%)
Jasmine Escalera, career expert for LiveCareer, said the findings underscore the need for changes in workplaces.
"The workplace needs to undergo a serious shift so that women no longer have to feel silenced by their menopause experiences," Escalera said in a statement.
"The lack of openness can be a serious burden for women to carry and can lead to other concerning outcomes like burnout, stress, loneliness, and disengagement from work."
Impact of menopause at work
According to the report, 91% of women begin experiencing symptoms of menopause before the age of 50, just around the same period when many step into senior management or leadership roles.
The top symptoms that impact their work are mood swings or anxiety (61%) and trouble focusing or staying productive (60%). Others said:
- Brain fog or memory lapses (51%)
- Sleep issues or fatigue (46%)
- Hot flushes or physical discomfort (17%)
"These symptoms do not just affect physical comfort; they can erode confidence and concentration, making it harder for women to perform at their usual level — similar to the challenges working mothers encounter when managing professional and family demands," the report read.
More than two in three women (69%) said menopause symptoms significantly disrupt their work performance. It brings nearly a third of them (31%) to consider changing jobs or roles or reducing their hours due to menopause.
Previous research also observed that women face a 4.3% drop in earnings in the four years after a menopause diagnosis, which widens to 10% by the fourth year.
Gabriella Conti, a professor from University College London, underscored that better access to information and related care would reduce the "menopause penalty" towards women.
"Our findings suggest that better information and improved access to menopause-related care are crucial to eliminating the menopause penalty and ensuring that workplaces can better support women during this transition," she said.
