Menopause in the workplace
Menopause is a natural transition in life for women and can have significant impacts in work or study, including concentration, energy levels, memory, mental health and confidence.
Discover how workplace needs assessments, coaching and our workplace services could help you with menopause in the workplace.
At Aim Forward, we understand that every experience of menopause is different. For some, it’s barely noticeable.
For others, it can involve a wide variety of physical and emotional changes that affect your daily life, work, studies, relationships, and confidence.
We’re here to help you navigate it with clarity, care, and practical support in the workplace.
What is menopause?
Menopause marks the point in time when your periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
The journey often begins earlier, in a phase known as perimenopause, when hormone levels begin to fluctuate.
It either happens naturally as the ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones, or for some women, it can be brought on through medical treatment known as induced menopause.
How can menopause impact your life and wellbeing?
The changing hormones in a woman’s body can cause uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms that impact each day. These can include:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Fatigue or brain fog, and headaches
- Mood swings or low mood
- Sleep issues
- Anxiety, low mood
- Lack of confidence and poor concentration
- Changes in weight, libido, or periods
Most people are surprised at the range of menopause symptoms, and they can affect women in different ways, whether it be at work, in their studies, personal relationships or in daily life.
How is menopause treated?
The main medical treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.
You can visit your GP to explore medication options.
How is menopause supported?
In addition to medication, many women explore lifestyle adjustments and complementary therapies to help manage the symptoms of menopause.
This can include regular exercise, a healthy diet, stress management techniques like yoga or meditation, and prioritising sleep.
An Aim Forward, a bespoke workplace needs assessment will provide you with the space to explore and understand how the symptoms of menopause in the workplace are impacting you and your role.
You will be provided with tailored support, expert guidance and a list of reasonable adjustments to help you manage any areas of difficulty in your work or studies.
Menopause in the workplace and reasonable adjustments
Many workplaces offer reasonable adjustments and support programmes for women throughout the menopause. They recognise the significant impact that menopause symptoms can have, and need to ensure they meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Menopause in the workplace is a significant issue. The symptoms affect a significant proportion of your female employees, and can have very real impacts on employee productivity, retention and wellbeing.
We offer guidance for organisations on:
- Reasonable adjustments
- Communication and disclosure
- Creating menopause-inclusive workplaces
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but with the right planning in place, there are powerful changes that can be made to increase employee productivity, retention and wellbeing while supporting menopause in the workplace.
How is menopause covered by the Equality Act 2010?
Whilst menopause isn’t a specifically protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, if the symptoms of menopause have a substantial impact (for 12 months or more) on an employee’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, then the symptoms may be considered a disability.
In addition to the protections afforded to those with a disability, employees experiencing menopause symptoms may be protected under the Equality Act 2010 based on age and sex.
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers are under a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments and not to discriminate against employees.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission published guidance for employers on menopause in the workplace in 2024, clarifying these legal obligations.
How can I support my employees?
Many employers offer reasonable adjustments and support programmes for menopause in the workplace. They recognise the significant impact that menopause symptoms can have, and want to ensure they meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Having menopause policies in place, a culture that is supportive of the need for adjustments, and workplace needs assessments for employees going through the menopause, ensures reasonable adjustments can be put in place.
Our workplace needs assessments allow your employees to feel supported with tailored solutions to help them excel.
Where can I get advice and support?
We’re so glad that you’re looking to support your employees. You’ve made a step in the right direction by visiting our website.
Please email [email protected] to see how Aim Forward can support you with consultancy, training, assessments and coaching.
Regardless of the size of your business, we’re ready to help you navigate solutions for menopause in the workplace that work for you.
How Aim Forward can support you
Whether you’re navigating symptoms or looking for reasonable adjustments in your work or studies, Aim Forward can support you with workplace needs assessments and coaching.
Workplace needs assessments
We take time to understand your unique challenges and how menopause is impacting your work or studies.
During your workplace needs assessment, we’ll identify practical, personalised strategies that can be put in place as potential reasonable adjustments to help you manage the impacts of menopause in the workplace.
Coaching
Following your workplace needs assessment, you can have follow-on coaching with your needs assessor to:
- Learn more about the recommendations and strategies in your needs assessment report.
- Adapt and refine your strategies based on what works for you day-to-day.
- Build confidence and your ability to tackle challenges throughout the menopause
- Communicate effectively with others about your changing needs over this period
We’ll support you to feel empowered, informed, and confident, requesting the changes you need to support you through this period.
Ready to take the next step?
You’re not alone in this. Whether you’re newly navigating menopause, supporting someone who is, or seeking support for menopause in the workplace, we’re here to help.
Contact us to book a workplace needs assessment or learn more about our workplace services.