Better awareness of physical work environment 

suggested adaptations 

Desk/personal fans

Cold drinking water available 

Better awareness

(of the menopause and physical work environment)

Employer actions

(steps needed to overcome stigma and non-disclosure)

Helpful policies

Training and

awareness-raising

What do

working menopausal women

want from their employers and line managers?

Empathic  - shows compassion and understanding

Considerate and sensitive - shows concern and doesn't pressurise 

Respectful - takes difficulties seriously 

Listen - asks open questions and takes lead from employee

Discrete - has a private conversation

Confidential - no disclosure without permission

Patronise or view as incompetent  -  during staff's menopause

Flippancy - treated as an office joke or laugh

Use of non-specific terminology -  'ladies or age-related gender-specific problems'

Turn into a big issue - avoid unnecessary and/or excessive questions

Avoidance - don't ignore it because of personal discomfort

Harassing - penalised for poor performance

Critical or judgmental - because staff are going through the menopause

Helpful and desirable

 Know what it is, the 

 symptoms and how it impacts   women

 See as a 'normal' process

 May only require support     temporarily 

 Highly variable between   women

Reference: Claire Hardy, Amanda Griffiths, Myra S Hunter What do working menopausal women want? A qualitative investigation into women's perspectives on employer and line manager support Maturitas 101 (2017) 37-41

For more guidance visit www.womenshealthatwork.org

Ventilation and temperature controls 

Access to toilets

Provision of

Rest areas

Accommodate within sickness absence policies 

Review working hours to allow flexitime, breaks and adjustments

Promote health + wellbeing  policies

within a positive women's health friendly culture

Availability of female managers

Communication skills training in sensitive issues for managers and training for all staff

Menopause information and

support groups

Include under diversity umbrella  providing evidence-based information  eg leaflets, online, expert talks

Get menopause on the radar 

Don't view negatively; not an 'affliction' or 'condition'

Don't make assumptions or generalisations 

Don't use a one size fits all approach 

Unhelpful and undesirable

• Integrate suggestions into policy and practice
• Ensure evidence-based approaches
• Evaluate initiatives and monitor progress 
  
• Encourage and support a women's health friendly culture 
• Continue research 

Well designed and

supportive seating

Allowing informal, looser uniforms with 'cooler' fabrics and footwear

Communication and behavioural skills 

(poor behaviour may inadvertently increase embarrassment and reinforce stigma)

Take home messages