One in ten quit work due to menopause, study finds

MORE than eight in ten women who took part in a new study have considered leaving work due to menopausal symptoms.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) also found that one in ten of those polled were leaving or had left employment because of the menopause. The study coincided with World Menopause Day yesterday, to highlight awareness in the workplace.

‘Nurses and midwives have told us the pressure they’re under at work is being made worse because there aren’t reasonable accommodations being made for menopausal symptoms,’ said INMO president Karen McGowan. ‘They don’t feel they can speak up.’

The survey contacted 1,030 nurses and midwives between September 23 and October 8, 2021.

Most of the respondents were nurses and around 19% were midwives.

Nine in ten stated that menopausal symptoms affected them at work and 42% said they had missed more than five days of work as a result.

Despite debilitating symptoms, 37% said they would not feel confident discussing menopause with their line manager.

Almost two-thirds did not inform their employer of the cause of their absence.

‘The potential for women’s careers to be negatively impacted by menopause needs to be eliminated,’ said INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

She added: ‘Education and awareness training are key to reducing stigma and facilitating the vital conversations women need to have at work.’ In 2019, the INMO became the first organisation in the country to call for employer action on behalf of employees experiencing menopause.