6 Conversation Starters for Discussing Menopause at Work

Menopause is an inevitable physical change experienced by 47 million women each year all over the world. This issue affects half of the human population in their daily life and work.

A combo of hot flushes, disturbed sleep, mood swings can lead to lower performance at work, to conflicts with colleagues and managers. As studies suggest, some women can give up their jobs altogether trying to avoid the daily struggle, because they are too embarrassed to speak up openly about this “shameful” topic.

Yet, it is so much better to have open communication with your line manager, HR person, or coworkers, to discuss the opportunities for creating a more supportive workplace together.

We have prepared 6 key conversation tips on how to address menopause in the workplace.

1. Find the right moment

Since menopause is a sensitive topic, you better choose the right person, at the right time and place. It may seem like too much to ask for, but it’s feasible, to find someone with authority whom you trust, and select a time when this person is least stressed, least swamped with piles of tasks.

You may send a direct message to such manager via work chat, e.g. “I’d like to discuss something personal that is affecting my work, please suggest when we could speak privately?”

2. See it from your manager’s perspective

Before talking to your Manager, understand the issue of menopause from their perspective. Focus on how it negatively affects your professional role, your deliverables, hence results of the entire teams you work with.

This instantly makes the subject relevant to your company projects, making it essential for the managers to find and sustain the best solution possible.

You could say something like “I’ve been struggling with some health issues recently, that have a bad impact on my work performance. I think it’s important for us to discuss it and manage together”.

3. Speak in a clear yet diplomatic manner

Write down your thoughts before meeting your manager, then stay on point when talking. Respect their and your time, speak directly about what particular things can improve your productivity at work. At the same time, be considerate, focus this talk on solutions rather than issues.

For example: “I’m going through menopause, it’s new for me, all these [mention particular symptoms, how you quickly get tired, feel tired eyes from looking into the monitor, etc.] I’d like to find a way to improve my work conditions, so I remain highly productive.”

4. Share information for clarity

Your boss doesn’t necessarily know what menopause is, and they don’t have to. You might want to share some helpful information, very briefly, to make sure you are on the same page.

This statement can help: “I know that menopause is not often discussed, so I’m sharing some brief educational materials with pictograms, to illustrate what I and other women in our company feel and how it might affect our work”.

5. Prepare solutions that would work

Come up with a prepared list of suggestions, e.g. longer breaks, a more flexible schedule, the option to work from home, the option to step out to have some fresh air during office hours, a desk on the office balcony if you have one. Think outside the box; maybe your organisation can afford a corporate masseuse for head-and-shoulder massages, or table tennis.

You may say “I have prepared some solutions that seem to be feasible and effective for our company, could you please look into them?” Now list your ideas.

6. Make this conversation broader

If you feel the potential to lead, consider other female colleagues that might experience similar issues now or any time soon. Use this to make your workspace a better place, more inclusive, more employee-friendly. Propose some training sessions, workshops, a recurring bulletin, or company policy updates, to mitigate issues around menopause.

You may phrase your proposition in this way: “I strongly believe it might be helpful for all our employees to learn more about menopause and its effects. I could prepare a plan for [your initiative] by [specific date] and then we could discuss it together please”.

Conclusion

Thanks to these conversation tips, discussing menopause at work should not be scary anymore. By choosing the proper moment, communicating clearly and politely, suggesting doable solutions, you can create a more supportive work environment for you and your colleagues. An open conversation is the first step to normalize such discussions for all levels of the company management.