Menopause in the workplace: What employers should be doing

Jack, Gavin; Riach, Kathleen; Bariola, Emily; Pitts, Marian; Schapper, Jan; Sarrel, Philip M.

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.12.006

Cited by 144 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…A recent review on menopause in the workplace highlighted the potential impact of relationships at work and the importance of a supportive work environment in alleviating symptoms (Jack et al 2016). Working in unsupportive environments presents a barrier for TALKING MENOPAUSE AT WORK 4 women to disclose menopause-related problems and obtain help (Griffiths et al, 2013).…”

Section: Talking Menopause At Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling the taboo: talking menopause-related problems at work

Hardy

Griffiths

Thorne

et al. 2019

IJWHM

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Purpose: Women are typically reluctant to disclose menopause-related problems that may affect their working lives to line managers. Consequently, support may not be offered nor potential solutions explored. This study examines how working menopausal women would prefer to have conversations about the menopause at work. Design/methodology/approach: Using semi-structured telephone interviews working menopausal women (aged 45-60 years) were asked about their experiencing of talking about their menopause at work, and how helpful conversations might be initiated and conducted. Transcripts were analyzed thematically to identify factors that may facilitate or hinder such conversations. Findings: Two themes emerged: (i) organizational context. Facilitators included an open culture with friendly relationships, a knowledgeable and proactive manager, organization-wide awareness of the menopause and aging, and access to a nominated woman to discuss problems. Barriers included male-dominated workplaces, male line managers, fear of negative responses, stigma, discrimination, embarrassment or believing menopause is inappropriate to discuss at work; (ii) the nature of the discussion. Facilitators included managers demonstrating an understanding and acceptance of a woman's experience, jointly seeking acceptable solutions, TALKING MENOPAUSE AT WORK 2 respecting privacy and confidentiality, and appropriate use of humor, as opposed to being dismissive and using inappropriate body language. Discussions with suitable persons at work were preferred and being prepared was advised. Practical implications: These findings could inform training programs, workplace policies and practice. Originality/value: This study provides timely insights to help women and their managers discuss menopause-related difficulties at work and seek solutions together.

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Section: Talking Menopause At Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling the taboo: talking menopause-related problems at work

Hardy

Griffiths

Thorne

et al. 2019

IJWHM

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“…Twenty-seven women were interviewed at the end of the trial from the intervention group. We originally intended to select 50% of transcripts for analysis, 22 but as only 27 women took part in interviews, all their data were included. The majority, 82%, felt that the intervention had impacted positively on their experience of HFNS, 48% mentioning a reduction specifically in HFNS frequency.…”

Section: Evaluation Interviewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…perceived performance, and that certain work situations and physical working environments, such as aspects of work design and temperature, and work stress, can increase the intensity of menopausal symptoms. 11,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] However, Jack and colleagues in a recent systematic review 22 concluded that while some working women who had bothersome menopausal symptoms reported impaired work outcomes, the overall evidence was inconclusive. Moreover, surveys of work-related stress in the UK 23 suggest that women aged 45-54 report more work-related stress than mid-aged men or women of any other age group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-help cognitive behavior therapy for working women with problematic hot flushes and night sweats (MENOS@Work): a multicenter randomized controlled trial

et al. 2018

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“…Much attention has been given to the management and treatment of menopausal symptoms in the workplace in many countries (Griffiths et al, 2016;Jack et al, 2016). Part-time workers may access drugstores where they can consult with pharmacists rather than visiting hospitals because of not having sufficient time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in strategies for coping with menopausal symptoms in full-time workers and part-time workers in Japan

Matsuzaki¹,

Fukuoka²,

Uemura³

et al. 2018

Int. J. Nurs. Midwifery

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Working hours and working conditions are different for full-time workers and part-time workers. In this study, it was hypothesized that the strategies for coping with menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, and the proportion of women receiving clinical care differ between full-time and part-time workers. Four hundred and eighty-seven Japanese female workers aged 45 to 60 years responded to a health questionnaire about their understanding of menopause and their strategies for coping with menopausal symptoms. Based on the surveyed responses, the proportions of women with menopausal symptoms were 43.0% (80/186) in full-time workers and 48.2% (145/301) in part-time workers. There was no significant difference in the female worker response rate, nor were there significant differences in the proportions of full-time workers and part-time workers who had an understanding of menopause causes and treatments and who were able to cope with menopausal-related symptoms. However, there were significantly more full-time workers than part-time workers who received routine clinical care and who visited a hospital. On the other hand, significantly more part-time workers than full-time workers exercised and took dietary supplements as a means of coping with their symptoms. There are differences between female full-time and part-time workers regarding the strategies employed for coping with menopausal symptoms. The proportion of women receiving clinical care for their symptoms is greater among full-time employees than part-time employees. A physical examination can be a valuable opportunity for working women with menopausal symptoms to receive advice from a doctor or a nurse practitioner.Key words: Menopause, coping strategy, full-time workers, part-time workers. INTRODUCTIONIn 2007, the employment rate for Japanese females aged 15 to 64 years was more than 60%, and by 2013, this percentage had increased to 62.5% (SBJ, 2013). In 2011, the proportion of female part-time workers reached 45.9% (MHLW, 2011). Recently, part-time work has become a more popular option and has enabled Japanese women 2 Int. J. Nurs. Midwifery to maintain a balance between work and family life. In Japan, various types of female employment can facilitate greater equality by providing opportunities for women to demonstrate their ability to achieve a work-family life balance. Yoshii and Yamazaki (1999) reported that working conditions influence the status of health, though the effects of working conditions on menopausal symptoms are unclear. Researchers have shown that the frequencies of hot flushes and vaginal dryness in part-time workers were greater than those in full-time workers (Li et al., 2003). Previously, it was reported that the association of job-related stress with menopausal symptoms was different in full-time workers and part-time workers (Matsuzaki et al., 2017).Ways for coping with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia may be different according to occupation. For example, ways for copin...

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Menopause in the workplace: What employers should be doing

Cited by 144 publications

References 68 publications

Tackling the taboo: talking menopause-related problems at work

Tackling the taboo: talking menopause-related problems at work

Self-help cognitive behavior therapy for working women with problematic hot flushes and night sweats (MENOS@Work): a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Differences in strategies for coping with menopausal symptoms in full-time workers and part-time workers in Japan

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