Have you thought about quitting your job due to menopause symptoms?
Imagine climbing to the peak of your career, only to suddenly feel like you can no longer function. For thousands of highly capable women aged 45 and over, this is a terrifying reality. Instead of celebrating their most successful professional years, many are quietly handing in their notices without warning.
1 in 4 have considered leaving
1in 10 have left
This blog addresses the impact menopause symptoms can have on women in the workplace which is resulting in 1 in 10 leaving their jobs, the profound impact of this talent drain and the steps organizations must take to support them.
FREE Menopause Audit for your company, email [email protected] to book.
Why Menopause Can No Longer Be Ignored in the Workplace
While menopause directly impacts 51% of the population, its economic and cultural ripple effects touch everyone—family members, children, colleagues and partners.
In 2018, legendary BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Jo Whiley was handed a massive career opportunity: co-hosting the high-profile Drivetime show. However, she was struggling due to debilitating perimenopause symptoms. A seasoned communicator whose job was to speak, suddenly found herself grappling for words live on air due to brain fog and severe bouts of low self-esteem.
At Glastonbury, she found herself nearly in tears because she could no longer read her own notes. Feeling like a "liability" and deeply uncomfortable due to not being in full control of her mind, Jo's experience perfectly highlights how easily the menopause can make a world-class professional feel completely unhinged. Gradually by getting treatment and making adjustments to her lifestyle including eating more protein and exercising more frequently, she began to feel like herself again. Fast forward to June 2026 where she ‘closed’ the Isle of Wight Festival at age 60 with her hugely popular 90’s anthem set.
The era of ignoring menopause as a private matter is officially over. Following landmark guidance launched in March 2026 under the UK employment rights framework, menopause support is now tightly bound to closing the gender pay gap. All businesses with over 250 employees must have a Menopause Action Plan in place by April 2027, currently it is voluntary. Regardless of size, all forward thinking companies that value their employees, should have a menopause policy in place. And it should be visible and not just sitting in a drawer.
So why do menopause symptoms have such a big impact for some in the workplace?
The issue is many women don’t realise what is happening to them - one minute they are firing on all cylinders juggling lots of different balls, the next they have crippling anxiety and can’t remember words in meetings. Even if they recognise what is happening, they may feel embarrassed and they don’t feel they can confide in anyone. Particularly if there is no visible menopause support in place. Line managers may notice something but often don’t know what to do or how to broach the issue without offending, so don’t do anything.
Having a menopause policy and creating a menopause friendly culture ensures there is empathy and understanding about the impact this life stage can have, people recognise what is happening and feel seen, supported and will be empowered to ask for help and managers will feel confident in broaching the subject and know what support to offer.
The Business Case for having a Menopause Policy and Culture:
Increase Productivity
Menopause can cause psychological symptoms which can impact productivity.
- 76% experience a lack of concentration
- 70% experience stress
- 67% experience loss of confidence
Lower Absence Levels
- 3 in 4 experience symptoms and for 25% symptoms are severe.
- 35% of menopausal people report they have taken time off work due to menopause symptoms but only 9% disclose the real reason.
Reduce Recruitment Cost
- It can cost an average of £6.1k to replace a senior level employee
Attract Experienced Talent
- 52% of employees say wellbeing programmes are a must-have
When it comes to supporting menopause in the workplace, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. A corporate law firm, a busy retail floor and a manufacturing plant will all require different approaches which could involve looking at impact of uniforms, rest breaks and office temperature.
Easy, low cost adjustments all employers can introduce which can make a big difference quickly include:
- Flexible working hours (Coming in later if sleep is an issue)
- Help with work load / support before and after meetings e.g. going through notes after the meeting, distributing workload with team (Good if experiencing brain fog and poor concentration)
- Access to desk fans
- Dedicated private space (Very helpful for those having hot flushes)
About Nicky
Our Managing Director, Nicky, is a Certified Menopause Coach and Workplace trainer licensed by Henpicked, the leading menopause in the workplace provider. She has over 2 decades of experience working in the field of menopause working alongside leading menopause specialists and her own lived experience of running her own company whilst experiencing severe menopause brain fog, anxiety and fatigue. She works with businesses to create menopause friendly workplaces to ensure both business and employees thrive.
Nicky provides:
- Company wide talks delivered in person or online
- HR & Manager Training Workshops that provide a structured framework for opening up conversations with employees
- Menopause Champion sessions 121 and group : Signposting support, guidance on how to get the most out of GP appointment, lifestyle adjustments
Would your company benefit from having a FREE audit to see how menopause friendly they are, where the gaps are and how to fill those gaps? Book a free 30 minute call by emailing [email protected]
