“Considerable stigma” faced by menopausal women at work
One in three women are missing work due to menopause symptoms but don’t tell anyone what they are going through, according to new research from the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. The survey, commissioned as part of its ongoing Menopause and the Workplace inquiry, collated over 2,000 responses. The key results will form part of the Committee's upcoming report and inform the recommendations it will present to Government in late spring 2022.
Key findings include:
- 31% of respondents reported taking time off work due to menopause symptoms, which included problems with memory or concentration, anxiety/depression and headaches (75%, 69% and 41% of all respondents respectively).
- Despite this, less than a third of respondents told anyone at work and just under 11% requested adjustments in the workplace due to their symptoms.
- Those who did not request adjustments were most likely to do so as a result of stigma, with 26% citing the reason as “I was worried about the reaction of others”.
- Almost one in five respondents (19%) did not know who to speak to in order to request adjustments, which led to them not speaking up. Of the respondents who did ask for support, those who spoke to line managers felt more supported than employees who reported symptoms to HR or occupational health.
There are a number of reasonable adjustments an employer can make to ensure equality for all employees. Adjustments that would be considered reasonable could include:
- Being flexible with working arrangements and times.
- Providing specialist or adjustable equipment where needed, such as a more comfortable chair, desk fan and so on.
- Considering how to enable an employee to return to work, such as offering a phased return and flexible hours.
In a summary accompanying the results, the MPs conclude that there is still “considerable stigma” about talking about menopause at work, and that a reticence to seek support arises “out of concerns for privacy and worrying about the reaction of others”. An analysis of qualitative answers found that the support desired by employees ranged from practical measures such as greater flexibility to cultural changes like removing stigma, encouraging openness, education and awareness raising.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, said:
"I am saddened, but not surprised, by the results of our survey. Half the population will experience menopause, and women of menopausal age are the fastest growing group in the workforce. Yet the stigma is clearly huge. If companies want to retain talent and experience, they need to wake up to the reality of menopause. Our survey shows us just how common symptoms which have an obvious impact in the workplace are, and how ashamed those experiencing them feel. Yet what the survey tells us is that the solutions are in easy reach for most organisations. Much of this is about practical adjustments for employees, and stamping out boorish ‘banter’ that menopause is a 'women's problem’ or a joke. There’s a legal, social and economic imperative to support working women through a normal life transition, so we can hold on to role models for the next generation."
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