Menopause Inclusive Workplace
Women represent almost half of the workforce in Canada and make a significant contribution to our economy. As companies look to improve diversity, equity and inclusion, it is time break the silence and the taboo of menopause in the workplace. We must confront the ageism and the sexism that prevent us from talking openly about menopause and providing the support women need.
We have made great strides in key areas. Almost every workplace, for example, now supports women through pregnancy. Like pregnancy, menopause is just another phase of life. The difference is pregnancy doesn’t happen to every woman – menopause does.
The Menopause Foundation of Canada can help your organization create a Menopause Inclusive Workplace. Reach out to us here
Is menopause the missing link to why more women aren’t breaking through the glass ceiling?
In 2019, Canadian women represented nearly half (47.4%) of the labor force, compared to 37.6% in 1976—a percentage increase of over 25%. Only 24 (or about 3.5%) of TSX-listed Canadian companies had a woman CEO as of July 2019. And women held only 31.5% of senior management roles.
Catalyst, Quick Take: Women in the Workforce – Canada, Aug. 19, 2020
“Menopause often intersects with a critical career stage. It usually occurs between ages 45 and 55 — which is also the age bracket during which women are most likely to move into top leadership positions… If we want to continue to move the needle on the number of women in leadership roles and maintain their valuable contributions to a company’s bottom line, we need to be more open about what menopause is and how it affects both individuals and organizations.”
Harvard Business Review, It’s Time to Start Talking About Menopause at Work. Feb. 24, 2020
In a 2021 survey by market research agency Opinium of over 5,000 people in five countries, 66 per cent of people who experienced menopause said it affected them on the job, and 44 per cent said they’d feel too embarrassed to ask for support at work.
The Globe and Mail, Nov. 17, 2021
According to a 2014 Yale University study looking at healthcare claims of Fortune 500 companies, women who experienced hot flashes are mostly untreated. This cost of work lost to these companies was more than $27 million during the 12-month period of the study.
YaleNews, Aug. 27, 2014