Closing the menopause support gap

Menopause impacts productivity, mental health, and employee retention, yet the lack of workplace support perpetuates stigma and gender inequities. Our research highlights the challenges faced by women experiencing menopause, including inadequate accommodations, limited healthcare access, and cultural taboos. The absence of support significantly affects career progression, engagement, and well-being. Many organizations are unaware of the issue’s impact, leaving employees unsupported. To close this gap, HR and DEI leaders must act by establishing menopause-friendly workplace policies, improving access to healthcare professionals, raising awareness to normalize conversations, and embedding menopause-related metrics into DEI and wellness frameworks. This research underscores the urgency for businesses to address menopause as a workplace issue. Providing meaningful support not only helps retain experienced talent and improve productivity but also reinforces organizational commitments to equity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing.