Few Kiwi women discussing menopause at work: report

Discussing menopause in the workplace remains elusive despite employers saying they are "comfortable" about this discussion at work, according to a new report.

New research from Global Women and ANZ Bank New Zealand found that only 11% of Kiwi women have talked to their managers about menopause, perimenopause, or their experiences related to it at work.

This is despite 90% of employers claiming they were comfortable discussing about menopause-related issues with their employees, including half of them who said they were "very comfortable" about the topic.

The findings indicate that the topic of menopause might still a taboo in many workplaces, especially since it arrives during a time when women are "most valuable to an organisation."

"Menopause occurs at a critical time in a woman's career when many are experiencing career successes or achieving leadership roles," said Theresa Gattung, Global Woman Chair, in a statement.

Impact of menopause on productivity

The lack of discussion surrounding the topic may be leading to a disconnect on productivity perception between bosses and employees.

According to the report, three-quarters of Kiwi women who are experiencing menopause believe that its symptoms negatively affected their work.

Concentration loss and brain fog were the most-reported symptoms. Other symptoms include:

• Loss of interest/motivation 38%
• Feeling less patient 38%
• Feeling more stressed 37%
• Feeling less confident in their abilities 35%

One in four women (24%) said their ability to work was halved because of these symptoms, while most said it made them work at a level that was 20% to 30% below their best.

Majority of employers (94%), however, said they have no concerns about women's performance during menopause.

Understanding menopause

More than half of the managers surveyed also agreed that promoting an environment where employees can openly discuss menopause would be beneficial for their workplace.

However, nearly 40% of employers admitted that they need more information on the topic.

Michelle Russell, ANZ's General Manager, Talent & Culture, underscored the importance of better understanding on menopause to promote an inclusive environment for women.

"Women make up a large percentage of our workforce and everyone has a shared responsibility for understanding the impacts of menopause in the workplace," Russell said in a statement. "Increased understanding is essential for creating an inclusive environment that supports gender equality."

Providing accommodation

Despite the lack of understanding on menopause, however, majority of employers said they are already providing the most requested accommodations for women undergoing menopause.

The most sought-after adjustments from women experiencing menopause include:

• Working from home some or all the time (22%)
• Flexible start and finish times (20%)
• Reduced work hours (14%)

According to the report, nearly 70% of employers said they are already allowing flexible start and finish times, while nearly 50% already permit remote work for some days.

Another one in four managers also said they believe a specific menopause policy would benefit their organisation, especially since not all industries might not be able to provide such adjustments.

The report found that women working in predominantly female-dominated industries are less likely to work from home and be allowed to have flexible start and finish times.

In fact, 42% of women in these industries no longer ask for such adjustments because they know it won't be possible, according to the findings.

Russell said the "diverse nature of work in New Zealand" could bring about challenges in handling menopause at work.

"But I encourage all employers to look at ways to normalise menopause, identify ways to support their female employees, and provide guidance for managers so they can support their staff," Russell said.