Navigating Menopause at Work
5 Reasons Women Consider Leaving Their Jobs
Menopause brings about various physical and emotional changes which can significantly impact a woman's work life, often leading to difficult decisions about continuing their careers.
According to a recent New York Times article citing a 2023 Mayo Clinic study1, “menopause costs American women an estimated $1.8 billion in lost working time per year. Some are taking sick days. Others are cutting back their hours. Still others end up quitting altogether.”
Here are five reasons why menopause symptoms can be disruptive in the workplace:
1. Physical Discomfort: Menopause can wreak havoc on a woman’s body with symptoms such as fatigue, ache and pains and hot flashes. Coping with these discomforts can be challenging in a work environment, affecting productivity and job satisfaction.
2. Brain Fog and Cognitive Issues: Menopause brain fog is a real struggle. Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and mental fatigue can hinder job performance and erode self-confidence. Women may fear that their cognitive challenges might be perceived as a lack of competence.
3. Mood Swings and Emotional Distress: Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression. These emotional challenges can impact workplace relationships, teamwork, and even decision-making abilities, making the work environment less enjoyable.
4. Sleep Disturbances: Insomnia is a common complaint during menopause. Sleep-deprived women may find it hard to focus, stay alert, and maintain their energy levels throughout the workday. This can lead to a decrease in job satisfaction and engagement.
5. Lack of Supportive Work Policies: Workplaces that lack understanding and accommodations for menopausal symptoms can push women towards considering leaving their jobs. A lack of flexibility, inadequate sick leave, and a stigma around discussing menopause can make women feel unsupported and undervalued.
According to the same New York Times article, “researchers from the University of Southampton2 in England analyzed data from a longitudinal study of over 3,000 women and found that those who reported at least one disruptive menopausal symptom at the age of 50 were 43 percent more likely to have left their jobs by the age of 55.”
There’s good news and employers hold the key.
Supporting female employees through perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause is essential. Employers can offer education, support programs, flexibility, and resources. By doing so, employers retain experienced talent, boost morale, and create an inclusive workplace that values women's well-being across all phases of life.
Help Morphus with their Menopause Research by taking the Women In The Workplace survey. It will only take a minute to complete.
Menopause Inc., led by Menopause Performance Coach, Cara Bradley, offers workplace programming to empower women to take charge of their menopause journey with confidence, improve their overall wellbeing, and maximize their productivity and performance both personally and professionally.
Faubion, S. S., Enders, F., Hedges, M. S., Chaudhry, R., Kling, J. M., Shufelt, C. L., ... & Kapoor, E. (2023, June). Impact of menopause symptoms on women in the workplace. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 833-845). Elsevier.
Evandrou, M., Falkingham, J., Qin, M., & Vlachantoni, A. (2021). Menopausal transition and change in employment: Evidence from the National Child Development Study. Maturitas, 143, 96-104.