Menopause: Mind the Gap

Workplaces increasingly reflect the diversity found in the greater community.

Typical company policies for women in 1972 allowed organizations to pay women 10% less than their male peers. There was no maternity pay, and when women had children, employers commonly expected them to leave their jobs. Today, women over 50 represent the fastest growing segment in the workforce, increasing by 21 percent between 1993 and 2020. Legislative efforts enacted over the past 40 years, which, in most nations, included maternity leave, meant women continued working and advancing their careers through their childbearing years. This increased presence led to studies focusing on women and the support they need, particularly through their menopause years. Some research points to a positive correlation between policies that support employee health and increased worker productivity.

Menopause symptoms can adversely effect women’s job performances. In one study, for example, women reported experiencing more stress, a decreased ability to concentrate and less patience with clients and team members. Yet most women, especially those in leadership positions, hesitate...