The Essential Guide To Menopause Solutions For Women In Workplace

Organizations can start by fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue about menopause. This can be achieved by conducting awareness campaigns and workshops that educate employees about the menopause process, its symptoms, and how it can affect women at work. This will help to dispel any misconceptions and create a supportive environment for women going through menopause.

Menopause is a natural biological process that every woman experiences at some point in their life. It can bring about a variety of physical and emotional changes that can affect a woman's productivity and well-being at work. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to take an interest in menopause solutions for women in the workplace. Menopause typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age of onset being 51 in the United States and even lower in India. This means that a significant portion of the female workforce is either currently experiencing or will soon experience menopause.

Boosting organisational support

At Gytree there is a special program that offers a concerted effort to support women through their menopause journey. Employers opt for this program to make women aware of menopause and aid them through the life stage by creating a network of experts from nutritionists to gynaces.

This includes access to healthcare professionals who specialise in menopause, offering counselling services, or providing information about local support groups. Such resources can help women navigate the challenges of menopause and find effective ways to manage their symptoms.

The number of postmenopausal women is expected to reach 1.1 billion by 2025 globally. Organizations should also consider offering health and wellness programs that cater to the needs of menopausal women. This could include yoga or meditation classes to help manage stress, or nutrition workshops that provide advice on diet changes to help alleviate menopause symptoms. Such programs can help women manage their symptoms and promote overall health and well-being in the workplace.

Kareshma Khanna, from Gytree.com, says women deserve specialised care. "A woman's body goes through various phases from Menarche to Menopause - experiencing extremes of hormonal fluctuations and physical changes - how can one particular GP address the plethora of health issues a woman undergoes? A specialized care team not only provides women with holistic health solutions but also hand-holds them in this not-so-easy journey. A specialized care team works on identifying the root cause and counsels women towards leading a healthier, happier and longer life."

Research conducted by the Society for Women's Health Research indicates that menopause symptoms can lead to a significant economic burden due to lost productivity. The study estimated that the cost of absenteeism and presenteeism (working while sick) related to menopause symptoms could be as high as $150 billion annually.

The share of organizations with 500 or more employees that offered or planned to offer a menopause-specific benefit increased from 4% in 2022 to 15% this year, surveys by the consulting firm Mercer show.