Why Menopause Affects Us All and Why We Should Talk About It at Work

“Menopause is much more than just a women’s issue.” They affect us all—and not just because both women and men go through this hormonal change.

Menopause is one of many stages of life in which we face physical, emotional, and mental challenges. The way we treat colleagues going through menopause at our company directly reflects how we promote health, inclusion, productivity, and diversity in our teams. In this article, we’ll explore why we should talk about this at work and how we can support colleagues going through menopause.

Every day, people who have barely slept sit in meetings. Every day, people go about their daily tasks and have trouble concentrating. Every day, people take responsibility for themselves and others—and are faced with constantly changing physical symptoms.
And few people know about it or talk about it. One of the reasons: menopause.

What exactly do we mean when we talk about menopause and the menopausal transition?

Menopause and the menopausal transition are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. Menopause refers to the transitional phase lasting several years before and after a woman’s* last menstrual period. During this time, the body undergoes hormonal changes—usually between the ages of 45 and 55, although there is considerable individual variation. Men* also experience a similar decline in hormone production at this age. Menopause, on the other hand, is a clearly defined point in time within this entire period: the last menstrual period.

This hormonal change is usually accompanied by a variety of symptoms. In men, testosterone levels drop, which can lead to reduced muscle strength and libido, cause fatigue or depression, and affect concentration. In women, this hormonal change is typically divided into four phases—premenopause, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause—each of which is accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Depending on the study, there are up to more than 100 different mental and physical symptoms.

Physical changes: including hot flashes, sleep problems, and joint pain

Psychological effects: including mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue

Long-term changes: including hair loss, weight gain, and skin changes

“That’s a private matter!” — or is it?

In many companies, the number of employees going through menopause is on the rise. The symptoms experienced particularly by middle-aged women can have a massive impact on their well-being—and these symptoms don’t just stop at the office door or the factory gate, as the following example shows:

You wake up in the morning and feel exhausted. Not sick or extremely tired, but still feeling a little tense. But you don’t need to worry about that any further. The day finally begins, and you have to get things done: breakfast, work, appointments, housework, caregiving—everything gets taken care of. Of course. Just like always.

But there’s still this hazy fog in my head. You’re sitting at work, and suddenly—right in the middle of a sentence—the thought is gone. Just vanished. “Where was I just now?” and “What was I about to do?” are phrases you’ve been saying more often lately. You throw open the window because you’re so hot again.

After work, all you want to do is go home. The idea of doing anything at this point is completely out of the question for you.
And then something small goes wrong at home—maybe the bread is moldy or a glass tips over—and you feel yourself suddenly getting really angry. You might cry out of frustration. But it’s no wonder—you’re completely exhausted. You’re having trouble falling asleep again tonight, even though you’re so tired. Then you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep. And then my thoughts start going round and round… until it all starts over again the next day.

For many people in this situation, this is part of everyday life—both at work and at home. So if we dismiss menopause as a purely private matter, we sometimes overlook real challenges and risk ignoring the important needs of our colleagues. This can have consequences for the entire team: People who frequently have trouble sleeping may make more mistakes. Our own creativity and problem-solving skills also diminish when we are constantly tired. People who have trouble concentrating need more time to complete tasks or sometimes forget key steps. People who frequently experience headaches or joint pain and feel unwell are more likely to take sick leave or push themselves beyond their limits at work.

Five Good Reasons to Talk About Menopause at Work—and How We Can All Provide Support

1. Maintaining Health and Performance

For many women, menopause brings with it physical and emotional challenges. Measures such as good indoor ventilation, wellness programs, access to drinking water, and quiet spaces not only promote employees’ well-being but also reduce the risk of health problems and the resulting absences from work.

2. Ensuring Efficiency and Quality

Menopausal symptoms can significantly impair an individual’s productivity and performance. Supportive measures, such as flexible work and break schedules, ergonomic adjustments to the workplace, and improved lighting and noise conditions, help ensure that affected employees can continue their work efficiently and satisfactorily.

3. Promote Inclusion and Diversity

Menopause may affect only a portion of the workforce. But if you take a step back, you’ll see that it’s about health and, above all, about equal treatment and understanding for all stages of life. Teams that actively embrace diversity—and where people talk openly about the challenges they face at different stages of life—work with greater trust and creativity. An open culture of teamwork and embracing mistakes also fosters mutual understanding.

4. Increase Motivation and Retention

When employees—regardless of what stage of life they are in—feel that their company and colleagues take them seriously during stressful situations, their motivation and loyalty increase. A corporate culture that is tailored to different life stages reduces absenteeism and employee turnover. This ensures that valuable knowledge remains within the team and saves resources on recruiting and onboarding.

5. Strengthen the employer brand and corporate culture

Ultimately, when companies and teams address topics—even “uncomfortable” ones, such as menopause—they demonstrate that they genuinely care about their employees and colleagues. This has an impact both internally and externally: Companies that actively support employees through various life stages demonstrate modern leadership and position themselves as organizations committed to employee retention.

Menopause is not a marginal issue, but rather one of many stages of life in which we face challenges—whether in our relationships, at work, or with additional responsibilities, such as caring for family members and raising children.

* Editor’s note: For the sake of readability, this article refers to both women and men. We recognize that gender is not binary and that people of all genders can experience menopausal symptoms.