13
September
2024
|
15:05 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Health and Safety Moment: Menopause in the Workplace

four women sitting at table
four women sitting at table

Menopause is a universal experience that often times is considered a taboo/sensitive topic. It involves changing hormone levels, which can cause over 30 different symptoms that might impact work. Menopause lasts a significant part of a person’s life and includes three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. The term "menopause" is commonly used to describe the whole process.

Key Statistics from the Menopause Foundation of Canada’s Menopause and Work in Canada Report

  • Women will spend up to half their lives in menopause
  • 45-55 years of age is when most women enter menopause
  • Average age is 51
  • 1 in 100 before the age of 40 
  • 1 in 1,000 before the age of 30

Symptom Knowledge Gap

Menopause involves more than just hot flashes; women can face a wide variety of symptoms that may span the course of many years, affecting both their health and their work. This situation impacts a key group of employees who are in the prime of their careers and may leave them potentially:

  • Struggling in silence
  • Feeling embarrassed
  • Fearing repercussions
  • Working to overcome perceived shortcomings
  • Dismissing the impact

The Menopause and Work in Canada report validates the steep toll menopause is taking at work:

  • One-third (32%) of working women say their menopause symptoms negatively impacted their performance at work.
  • One-quarter (24%) say they hid their symptoms at work.
  • Two-thirds (67%) would not feel comfortable speaking to their supervisor or to someone in HR (70%) about what they were experiencing
  • Half (48%) would be too embarrassed to ask for help at work.

Other Common Symptoms: Lack of energy, Depression, Muscle and Joint Aches and Pain, Insomnia, Bladder Control Issues

Knowledge is power. With evidence-based information, women can take action. Making lifestyle changes, getting preventive care, and using various safe and effective treatments can help women navigate perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause more smoothly. Increasing awareness about menopause and its effects at work, while actively tackling challenges and removing obstacles for employees dealing with symptoms, is crucial for breaking the stigma and bridging the knowledge gap about menopause.Sharpen your knowledge of menopause in the workplace

Calendar this September 

  • 10th: World Suicide Prevention Day
  • 21st: World Alzheimer’s Day
  • 30th: Truth and Reconciliation Day

TELUS Health

Here are some of the services that our EAP provider offers:

  • Short-Term Counselling
  • Legal Advice
  • Resources for Mental Health 
  • Fitness and Health Advice
  • Perks and Savings
  • Financial Health resources
  • Family Relationships

Please log onto the TELUS Health website at: one.telushealth.com or call: 1-844-671-3327

Resources:

https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/menopause-and-work-in-canada-report/

https://hr.mcleanco.com/research/ss/be-an-ally-for-menopausal-staff