Many women suffer from menopausal complaints in the workplace. But only a small proportion of employers take these types of complaints into account. It’s time for this to change, experts say.
Only 2 percent of Dutch employers have a policy to help menopausal women at work, according to research by the CNV trade union. While 71 percent of women find the combination of menopausal symptoms and work difficult. 73 percent say they are less productive due to menopausal symptoms.
According to the research, a quarter of women are even unable to function for “an extended period of time”. This leads to burnout in some women. “It often starts with the feeling that the transition still cannot be discussed at work. It is taboo,” says director Jeroen Geenen of EstroCare, an organization that provides training on the transition in the workplace.
“Women often wonder: how should I be taken seriously? Given the number of women with these complaints, this is really something we need to work on,” says Geenen.
The complaints start in most women between the ages of 45 and 65. Although not all women suffer equally from menopause, there is a wide range of complaints that women can experience during menopause.
Because there is little talk about it, these complaints often go unrecognized for a long time. By women themselves, but also not by managers or company doctors. “This means that the complaints often fester for a long time before anything is done about it,” says Jolanda van Zwieten of CNV. “If it becomes a topic of discussion in the workplace, the complaints may also be recognized earlier.”
Solution sometimes very close
It is very easy to do something about some of these complaints, says Geenen. “Take the well-known hot flashes. In healthcare, synthetic clothing is often worn. That is a bit of torture for someone with hot flashes. But that is very easy for an employer to adjust.”
Less well known are the mental complaints that come with menopause. For example, mood swings, poor sleep and concentration problems. “Women often suffer from poor sleep and mood swings, especially in the morning. This can easily be solved with a more flexible schedule,” says Geenen.
Concentration problems are more difficult to deal with, especially if you work in an open-plan office, for example. But there is also a lot to think about, especially now that many companies are more flexible when it comes to working from home.
Menopausal women are indispensable in the labor market
The solutions are available, so it is time that something is actually done with them, says Van Zwieten. “The labor market is very tight, so we cannot do without all those women. It is also often women aged 45 or older who bring a wealth of experience. If they drop out, it will simply destroy capital for companies.”
In addition, menopause is a normal phase of life that every woman goes through, Geenen adds. “Policies are being drawn up everywhere in the Netherlands for pregnancy, for example. When you become pregnant, you know what to expect. This must also happen before the menopause.”
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2024-01-23 04:07:08
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