33% Are Very Familiar With the Concept of a Menopause-Friendly Workplace

Menopause-friendly workplaces are gaining recognition as important environments that support women experiencing the natural transition of menopause. These workplaces aim to break the challenges faced by women related to menopause in the workplace, such as taboos, raise awareness, and provide necessary accommodations for women during this phase of life.

Creating menopause-friendly workplaces begins with open conversations and destigmatizing menopause. By normalizing discussions, women can feel more comfortable addressing their needs and concerns related to menopause in the workplace.

Integrating wellness programs that address menopausal health and well-being can significantly contribute to a menopause-friendly workplace and benefit society. These programs may include access to health resources, counseling services, fitness programs, mindfulness activities, or nutrition and stress management workshops.

Public opinion on making workplaces ‘menopause friendly’ survey conducted by Real Research, an online survey app, seeks to gauge public opinion on the topic of menopause-friendly policies in workplaces.

Highlights:

• 32.94% are well aware of the concept of a menopause-friendly workplace.
• Insufficient workplace policies for menopausal women is one of the biggest challenges women face, said 27.61%.
• 37.11% said menopause-related challenges are supported in workplaces in their country of residence.

According to our menopause-friendly workplace survey data, most respondents were aware of the concept of menopause-friendly workplaces, with 33% being very familiar and 32% vaguely familiar. On the other hand, 35% were unfamiliar.

In the next survey poll, we asked the respondents whether they believe that menopause-related symptoms and challenges are recognized and supported in workplaces in their country of residence. Of most respondents, 78% were aware, compared to 22% who were not.

Challenges Faced by Women Related to Menopause in the Workplace

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life, but it can also be a challenging time. For working women, the challenges of menopause can be even greater. We inquired our respondents about the significant challenges faced by women related to menopause in the workplace.

The results showed 28% believed that insufficient workplace policies and accommodations for menopausal women were one, followed by lack of understanding and support from colleagues and supervisors (24%), difficulty managing menopause symptoms while performing job responsibilities (24%), and stigma and taboo surrounding discussions of menopause in the workplace, said another 24%.

Support Measures for Menopause in the Workplace

When asked what specific measures businesses should take to meet better the needs of women going through menopause, the majority of respondents (43%) mentioned flexible work schedules or alternative work arrangements, 27% mentioned access to private spaces, 11% mentioned improving workplace temperature control, and 9% suggested making it possible to provide more breaks or rest periods.

Understanding the Impact on Women Employees’ Productivity and Well-being in the Workplace

The symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mood swings, can make it difficult to concentrate, stay focused, and be productive at work. In addition, the emotional and physical changes that occur during menopause can lead to decreased self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, which can further impact a woman’s ability to perform her job duties.

We questioned the respondents about the possible effects of menopause on working women. 35% of respondents reported reduced productivity, 32% reported more stress and emotional difficulties, 13% reported more absenteeism, and 9% reported trouble managing.

Read Also: 40% of Respondents Are Satisfied With Diversity and Inclusion in their Workplace

Importance of Providing Adequate Resources and Support for Menopausal Women

According to Figure 2, 42% of the respondents said that it was somewhat important, 30% said extremely important, 20% said somewhat unimportant, and 8% said extremely unimportant.

Lastly, the survey poll asked the respondents whether all employers should have policies to support women going through menopause.

According to the findings, the majority of respondents (37%) responded definitely, 28% said absolutely, 20% said probably not, 7% said surely not, 4% said it depended on the size of the company, and 5% said they were unclear.