Menopause in the workplace is a serious issue and employees need urgent support. 71% of women say symptoms have affected their job and nearly 1 million women have been forced out of the labour market due to menopausal symptoms, or perhaps more accurately due to the lack of workplace support in managing their symptoms.
The extent of discrimination, bad practice, and general lack of awareness regarding menopause is forcing women out of the workforce. 90% of women experience symptoms and 10% leave their jobs due to them. Hot flushes, memory loss, joint aches and anxiety are just some of the menopause symptoms that reportedly cost the UK economy 14 million working days every year which equates to an approximate £1.8Bn GDP loss to the UK economy when the average GDP associated with a working day is factored in (Censuswide, 2019). 8 out of 10 of menopausal women are in work, and in government workforces, women make up almost 70 per cent of the workforce. Almost three quarters of them are 40-64 years old (Local Government Association, 2021) which means that at any time a significant proportion of this workforce will be experiencing symptoms of menopause.
The cost of recruitment to replace those who leave a business, according to Oxford Economics, is more than £25,000 for a person earning £30,000 a year, including direct recruitment costs, and bringing a new member of the team up to speed.
Data source Oxford Economics
Cost of employee relations issues or tribunals. The average cost of defending a tribunal case is £8,500, which does not include the cost of any awards or the claimant’s legal fees, if won. On top of this is the distraction in the business and reputational risks.
Data source British Chamber of Commerce
More than 250,000 menopausal and postmenopausal women are affected by osteoporosis. Falls costs NHS 2.3 billion per year and women 10% more likely to fall than men.
Data source UK Health Security Agency