As a 44-year-old woman in perimenopause who works from home, I’m currently writing this article with my air conditioning cranked down to 68 degrees, my office ceiling fan on high, and a small fan under my desk pointed directly at me. I’m also wearing a t-shirt and shorts.
I am able to make my workspace feel like the arctic—and tolerate my constant hot flashes—because I work from home. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible if I worked in-person at an office.
Many women who’ve had the option of remote work these past couple of years have had the same revelation. Many women face the challenge of switching jobs as employers begin to eliminate remote work options post-pandemic.
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A new survey found that almost half of female workers aged between 40 and 55 considered leaving the office in favor of remote work to ease their symptoms of menopause.
79% of the 1,000 women interviewed said it was difficult to work during menopause, more so than any other stages in life, such as starting a job, starting a family, and getting promoted. Respondents were able to rank their 50s tops in terms of being most challenging when working at the office, ahead of the 20s.
Despite the fact that women make up half the workforce—and 20 percent of those women are between the ages of 45 and 54—most employers are risking the loss of high-level talent because they are not accommodating women experiencing menopause symptoms.
Home is the better option
A new survey commissioned by fertility benefits company Carrot found that 47% of the 1,000 female respondents—who were either in perimenopause or menopause, or had been in the last five years—would consider Remote or hybrid work is an option for women experiencing menopause symptoms..
What’s more, almost a third of the women surveyed said they would think about transitioning from full-time to part-time work because of menopause symptoms. 22 percent said they would be open to retiring earlier.
Another study from the UK showed that 18% of women who are going through menopause think about quitting their job.
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These results aren’t just about the temperature of the office thermostat. Problems at work can include mood swings, sleep loss, brain fog, and other symptoms.
Patients share their stories with each other constantly Menopause symptoms have a negative impact on their relationships and careers because they’re exhausted, emotional, and responding to situations inappropriately, wrote Dr. Monica Christmas, director of the Center for Women’s Integrated Health at the University of Chicago Medicine in The New York Times.
Employer Benefits and Perks Never Consider Menopause
A survey of 2,500 women by Gennev telehealth found that 99 percent of those in the menopause age range said they felt comfortable with their current situation. don’t get any menopause benefitsat work. Carrot’s survey found that nearly 25% of respondents had taken leave from work to deal with their menopause symptoms. However, they hid this fact from their employers.
These numbers clearly show employers that accommodating workers in this age group is a good idea, as it can be costly to replace them.
“A lot of the most skilled and most valuable women who are leaders are in this group and the replacement costs for those leaders is much higher than average,” Carrot CEO Tammy Sun told Bloomberg.
Slow change
A few governments and companies are beginning to recognize that the issue of mature female employees could pose a challenge for senior leadership. The United States has very little discussion on menopausal issues in the workplace.
British consultant Nicola Green—who advises employers on how to support their female workers going through menopause—names efforts as simple as providing free menstrual products in the bathroom and access to cold drinking water as ways to start accommodating menopause symptoms and retaining senior talent.
She says that giving remote work options or flexible hours to female workers is the best way for them to be supported in this stage of their lives and to keep them on staff.