Women now make up about 47% of the workforce, but menopause remains a taboo issue, even though it is a manageable and natural occurrence in women’s lives.
"There is still this idea that menopause affects only ‘older’ women — in other words, not our colleagues, our managers, or most of the women we encounter during our workday,’ says Debbie Goodman, the CEO of Jack Hammer Global. "But simple logic dictates that this is not true, given that menopause can start to arise even from the early 40s.
"So a large number of women are affected by menopause who show up every day and put in the work while battling the physical and emotional impact of menopause in silence."
She has the following advice:
Companies should approach menopause as they would any other health and wellness issue, such as pregnancy or burnout. Educating employees, including managers, about menopause and its effects is a good place to start;
Improved policies and procedures can ensure that experienced employees and female leaders are not lost due to menopause-related issues; and
Encourage female leaders to speak about menopause to normalise and destigmatise the conversation around it.
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