{"id":743,"date":"2026-05-19T17:07:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/?p=743"},"modified":"2026-05-19T17:07:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:07:48","slug":"impact-of-menopause-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/impact-of-menopause-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hidden Cost Of Ignoring Menopause In The Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/menopause-in-the-workplace\/\">Menopause in the workplace<\/a> is not a trend, or a \u201cnice extra\u201d for big companies with big budgets. It\u2019s part of everyday life for millions of women, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womens-health-concern.org\/help-and-advice\/menopause-in-the-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">impact of menopause in the workplace\u00a0<\/a>is far bigger than most organisations realise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Most women will go through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/menopause\/\">perimenopause and menopause<\/a> while they\u2019re still working. Many are at the busiest point in their careers, juggling deadlines, caring for family and holding a lot of responsibility. Yet in many offices, clinics, schools and shops,<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u00a0No one mentions it in meetings. It rarely appears in policies. It never shows up in performance reviews.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">On the surface, everything looks fine. Women are still turning up, still delivering, still \u201ccoping\u201d. But underneath, there\u2019s a\u00a0<b>menopause and work impact<\/b>\u00a0that nobody is talking about \u2013 on women\u2019s health, on team morale, and on the organisation\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In this article, we\u2019ll look at the hidden cost of ignoring menopause in the workplace, and what can change when we finally bring it into the conversation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>What \u201cignoring\u201d menopause at work really looks like<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ignoring menopause in the workplace doesn\u2019t always look like open hostility. Often, it\u2019s much quieter than that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">It can look like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Never mentioning menopause in wellbeing talks, diversity training or staff emails<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Having no policy, guidance or even a short page on the intranet<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Managers feeling awkward, so they quickly change the subject<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">HR forms with no place to explain when menopause is affecting performance or attendance<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Jokes about hot flushes, but no serious conversation about what might help<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">In other words, \u201cignoring\u201d often means \u201cwe pretend this doesn\u2019t belong in work life\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The problem is, menopause does belong in work life \u2013 because it\u2019s already there. Surveys from organisations such as Women\u2019s Health Concern and CIPD show that most women aged 40\u201360 experience menopause symptoms, and many say these symptoms affect them at work. The\u00a0<b>impact of menopause in the workplace<\/b>\u00a0is real, whether anyone talks about it or not.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>How it feels for women when menopause at work is invisible<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">When menopause at work isn\u2019t recognised, women are left to carry everything quietly. Symptoms don\u2019t clock off when you swipe into the office. They arrive with you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>\u201cMaybe it\u2019s just me\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If nobody talks about menopause and work, it\u2019s easy to think:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">\u201cI\u2019m losing it.\u201d<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">\u201cI\u2019m not as capable as I used to be.\u201d<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">\u201cEveryone else is fine \u2013 why am I struggling?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Brain fog can feel like \u201cI\u2019m stupid\u201d. Anxiety can feel like \u201cI\u2019m not cut out for this role any more\u201d. Sleep problems can feel like \u201cI just need to try harder\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Without a clear link to menopause, many women blame themselves. They push harder, stay later, and use up even more energy trying to hide what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Quietly stepping back<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When symptoms get tougher, women often start making small, protective choices, such as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Turning down speaking opportunities or presentations<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Avoiding situations that might trigger anxiety or hot flushes<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Letting go of projects that feel too demanding<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Keeping their head down rather than applying for promotions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">From the outside, it can look like they\u2019ve \u201cgone off the boil\u201d or \u201clost ambition\u201d. Inside, they\u2019re trying to survive at work with very little support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Sick days that don\u2019t say \u201cmenopause\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If menopause is never mentioned, many women don\u2019t feel safe to name it as a reason for time off. They might phone in \u201cwith a migraine\u201d or \u201ca stomach bug\u201d instead of saying:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">\u201cI\u2019ve had almost no sleep all week because of night sweats.\u201d<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">\u201cMy anxiety is through the roof and I can\u2019t stop shaking.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Research shows that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/night-time-hot-flushes-in-menopause\/\">hot flushes, night sweats,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/menopause-insomnia-can-melatonin-help\/\">sleep problems<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/does-menopause-cause-anxiety\/\">low mood<\/a> are linked to more sickness absence and reduced work ability in midlife women. The sick days are real. The reason behind them is not always visible.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>The business impact of menopause in the workplace nobody sees<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">When we ignore the\u00a0<b>impact of menopause in the workplace<\/b>, we don\u2019t make it go away \u2013 we just push it underground. Women keep showing up, but they may be struggling with fatigue, brain fog, anxiety or hot flushes while trying to perform at their usual level.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This quiet\u00a0<b>menopause and work impact<\/b>\u00a0shows up in three big areas: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/menopause-and-workplace-productivity\/menopause-and-workplace-productivity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">productivity<\/a>, sickness, and losing experienced women.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Productivity and presenteeism<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Presenteeism is when people are physically at work, but not able to perform at their usual level because of health issues. Government reviews and workplace studies suggest that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/menopause-at-work-for-women-over-45\/\">menopause symptoms can reduce productivity and concentration for many women.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Think about a woman who is:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Running on three hours\u2019 sleep<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Battling hot flushes during back\u2011to\u2011back meetings<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Trying to think clearly through thick brain fog<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">She\u2019s there. She\u2019s doing her best. But she may be slower, less confident, and more drained by the end of the day. Multiply that across a workforce, and the\u00a0<b>menopause and work impact<\/b>\u00a0on productivity becomes hard to ignore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Sickness absence and \u201cmystery\u201d health issues<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Severe symptoms can lead to more sick days, especially when combined with long\u2011term sleep problems, pain or mental health struggles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When menopause is never mentioned, these absences may sit under other labels \u2013 stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue \u2013 without anyone spotting the pattern. The organisation keeps paying the cost in cover, disruption and lost hours, but never addresses the cause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Losing experienced women<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Perhaps the biggest hidden cost of ignoring menopause in the workplace is retention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Studies from the UK and elsewhere show that a significant number of women have considered reducing hours or leaving work due to menopause symptoms and lack of support. Some step back from leadership, turn down promotions or resign completely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">From the outside, it can look like a personal choice: \u201cShe fancied early retirement\u201d, \u201cShe wanted more time with family\u201d. Sometimes that\u2019s true. But often, menopause symptoms, rigid working patterns and fear of being judged sit quietly in the background.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Every time an experienced woman leaves because menopause at work feels unbearable, the organisation loses:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Deep knowledge of how things really work<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Mentoring and leadership capacity<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Stability in teams<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">The investment made in her training and development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Hiring and training new staff is expensive. Replacing someone with 20 or 30 years\u2019 experience is even more so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>The emotional cost: shame, isolation and lost confidence<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Numbers matter, but there\u2019s another cost that doesn\u2019t show up on a spreadsheet: how women feel about themselves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When menopause is ignored at work, women can feel:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Ashamed of their symptoms<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Worried they\u2019re \u201cnot good enough\u201d any more<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Afraid of being seen as weak or difficult if they speak up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Research links menopause to low mood, anxiety and loss of confidence, especially when women feel unsupported or misunderstood. That hit to confidence can spill over into other parts of life \u2013 family, friendships, health choices \u2013 and it\u2019s a heavy price to pay for a silence that could be broken with a few honest conversations and simple changes.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>Why \u201cdoing nothing\u201d about menopause is no longer neutral<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Some organisations worry that talking about menopause will be complicated or risky. They fear:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Saying the wrong thing<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Being accused of favouritism<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Opening a floodgate of \u201cspecial requests\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>So they do nothing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">But in 2026, doing nothing about menopause and work is no longer neutral. Awareness is growing, and official guidance now encourages employers to treat menopause as a workplace health and equality issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Staying silent sends a message, even if you don\u2019t mean it:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cThis part of your life doesn\u2019t belong here. Deal with it on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">That message pushes good people away and deepens the\u00a0<b>impact of menopause in the workplace<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>What organisations gain when they stop ignoring menopause<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">The good news? The flip side is also true. When organisations start to take menopause at work seriously, the benefits are real.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">You don\u2019t need a huge budget or a glossy campaign. You can begin with small, human steps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Women feel seen and supported<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Simply acknowledging menopause in the workplace can be a huge relief:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Including it in wellbeing newsletters or talks<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Sharing basic information on the intranet<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Saying clearly, \u201cIf menopause is affecting you at work, it\u2019s OK to talk about it\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">This tells women: \u201cYou\u2019re not imagining it. You\u2019re not alone. You\u2019re allowed to ask for support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-758 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/menopause-impact-workplace-1-e1779206735193.jpeg\" alt=\"impact of menopause in the workplace\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Managers feel more confident<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">With a bit of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equalityhumanrights.com\/guidance\/menopause-workplace-guidance-employers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guidance,<\/a> line managers can move from awkward silence to calm, practical support. Guidance from ACAS, CIPD and the Equality and Human Rights Commission all stress the importance of training managers and giving them simple tools for conversations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">They learn to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Ask open, respectful questions<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Focus on what adjustments might help<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Separate the person\u2019s value from the temporary impact of symptoms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">That alone can reduce conflict, misunderstandings and panic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Simple adjustments that protect performance<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When menopause is on the table, it\u2019s easier to make sensible, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/menopause-at-work\/\">low\u2011cost changes,<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Slightly flexible start times after very bad nights<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Access to fans or cooler spaces<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Short, regular breaks<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Hybrid working where possible<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Relaxed uniform rules so women can wear lighter fabrics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hr.admin.ox.ac.uk\/menopause-guidance#collapse3588366\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employer guides<\/a> show that small adjustments like these can make a real difference to comfort, performance and retention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Stronger retention and reputation<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">An organisation that openly supports menopause at work sends a clear signal:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">To current staff: \u201cWe want you to stay. We value your experience.\u201d<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">To future hires: \u201cThis is a place where midlife women are welcome and supported.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">That reputation helps you attract and keep the people you most want in your teams.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>Menopause and work impact doesn\u2019t have to stay hidden<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ignoring menopause in the workplace has a price: for women, for teams, and for organisations trying to keep their best people. The\u00a0<b>menopause and work impact<\/b>\u00a0is emotional, practical and financial \u2013 and it\u2019s bigger than most people think.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Menopause at work is not a private shame to be hidden. It\u2019s a normal life stage that deserves the same understanding and care as any other health issue. When we treat it that way, everybody wins.<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gov.uk<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/menopause-in-the-workplace-literature-review\/menopause-in-the-workplace-literature-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Menopause in the workplace<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>ACAS<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acas.org.uk\/menopause-at-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Menopause at work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>The information in this article is for general information and education only. It is not a substitute for individual medical, legal, HR or occupational health advice. Menopause is experienced differently by every person, and workplace situations can be complex. <\/em><em>f symptoms are affecting your health, speak to a suitably qualified healthcare professional. For questions about your job, rights or any changes at work, talk to your HR team, line manager, trade union or an employment law adviser. Never ignore, delay or change professional advice because of something you have read on Silverlocks or any other website.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Learn about the real impact of menopause in the workplace and what can help.  Ignoring has a hidden cost for women, teams and employers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-menopause","topic-work","format-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=743"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":759,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/743\/revisions\/759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.silverlocks.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}