More than one in four working women who have been through the menopause experienced a negative effect on their career as a result, new research from Canada Life has revealed.
More than a quarter (27%) of those aged 45-65 said they had felt undervalued, while 20% said their menopause had caused negative feelings with their colleagues.
The research also found a lack of support from employers when it comes to helping employees though the menopause, with two fifths (41%) of women reporting feeling unsupported and 42% feeling unable to talk to their line manager about their menopause experience. This lack of support led to 11% of women considering leaving their job.
Canada Life said a host of workplace policies would help women to feel better supported through the menopause, including improved sick leave for menopause symptoms (26%); flexible working rights (23%) and access to support such as virtual GPs and mental health counselling (17%).
Dan Crook, protection sales director at Canada Life, said: “Everyone experiences the menopause differently and some can have more severe symptoms than others, sometimes lasting for up to 12 years. Building awareness around the menopause is fundamental to normalizing the topic in the workplace and society, allowing people to talk openly and seek support when needed.
“With more than 1 in 4 women feeling their career negatively impacted by the menopause this could quickly become a key recruitment and retention issue for employers if not handled openly and compassionately.
“Women experiencing the menopause are usually at the height of their careers and an asset that employers should work hard to keep. Almost a fifth of women said they would be more likely to stay with their employer if they felt better supported in the menopause and by making relatively simple changes. Virtual support services also have a key role to play through helping employees via the workplace and employers should take every opportunity to promote their use.”
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