Information for employers
The menopause transition can be a significant part of a woman's life and affect them in ways that are not always visible.
Some may experience symptoms such as hot flushes, disrupted sleep, or changes in mood and concentration.
Creating a supportive workplace environment helps retain valuable staff, promotes wellbeing and contributes to gender equity at work.
Supporting workers
Create a supportive environment
As an employer or manager, you play an important role in shaping a workplace where people feel safe to talk about their health concerns — including the menopause transition — if they choose to. Being open to sensitive conversations supports a culture where staff feel confident and comfortable at work.
You can seek advice from your HR team, or an occupational health professional, to find reasonable ways to support people during this life stage. This also signals to staff that your organisation is committed to their wellbeing and inclusion.
Incorporating perimenopause and menopause education into wellbeing initiatives and manager capability training can also help leaders understand the menopause transition, and how to approach these conversations.
Building this awareness encourages staff to seek help early, which can help prevent avoidable absences.
Make adjustments for symptoms
Work with your employees to determine appropriate adjustments for their individual needs. Some options could include:
- allowing flexibility with uniforms and dress codes so people can dress in comfortable clothes
- planning for additional breaks when symptoms are harder to manage
- providing comfortable seating or access to quiet spaces
- offering flexible working arrangements, such as adjusted start and finish times or work from home days
- supporting leave for medical appointments
- offering access to fans or cooler work areas.
Promote support services available
You can help team members by directing them to reliable information about perimenopause, menopause and common symptoms on this website.
Employees
Support is available
If symptoms are affecting your work, remember you are not alone and support is available.
You might wish to talk to your manager, HR team or work health and safety representative about what you’re experiencing, and what might help make you feel more comfortable in the workplace.
Remember that workplaces are legally obligated to look after the health and safety of their staff and prevent discrimination around age or health issues.
Make adjustments to support yourself
There might be practical changes you can make, with your manager’s agreement, to help your work feel more manageable. For example, if you are experiencing hot flushes, you might be able to use fans to create a cooler environment or adapt uniforms to have layers that can increase comfort.
Finding more information
There are a range of materials available to support employers and employees with making the workplace more supportive for people in this stage of life.
- Menopause Information Pack for Organisations: Information to help workplaces support the menopausal transition
- Australasian Menopause Society: Menopause and the workplace factsheet
- NSW Government: Information on menopause in the workplace