Building a Menopause-Friendly Workplace: Frontier in Employee Wellness
Author: Dr. Kolin Durrant, Integrative Care Director, Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
The conversation around employee wellbeing has evolved significantly over the last decade. From gym memberships and meditation apps to flexible schedules and mental health support, organizations have invested in holistic wellness for their teams. However, one essential phase of women’s health remains underrepresented in these strategies: menopause.
In the United States, over 1.3 million women enter menopause each year, according to the North American Menopause Society. Yet few companies proactively address the physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges that arise during this life transition. As more women step into leadership roles, cultivating a workplace that supports them through menopause is no longer a nice-to-have. It is an imperative for progressive, inclusive, and sustainable employee wellness.
Understanding Menopause and Its Workplace Impact
Menopause marks the natural end of menstruation, usually between the ages of 45 and 55. Though biologically normal, the transition can bring a range of symptoms that affect day-to-day functioning. Fatigue, disrupted sleep, hot flashes, mood fluctuations, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating are all common experiences during this stage.
A 2023 report in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that nearly 15 percent of women experience symptoms that interfere with their ability to work (Impact of Menopause Symptoms on Women's Work Productivity). Many consider reducing hours, declining promotions, or leaving the workforce altogether due to lack of support.
According to The Fawcett Society, one in ten women in the United Kingdom has left a job because of unmanaged menopausal symptoms. This trend represents a substantial loss of leadership, experience, and institutional knowledge. It also exposes a gap in modern wellness programs that organizations can no longer afford to ignore.
Why Menopause Belongs in Employee Wellness Programs
Most workplace wellbeing initiatives prioritize fitness, nutrition, and mental health. However, few of them recognize gender specific health concerns that directly affect performance and morale.
Menopause impacts physical health, emotional resilience, and interpersonal dynamics. Symptoms like brain fog and emotional reactivity may be mistaken for burnout or disengagement, especially when unacknowledged. A 2022 article in the Harvard Business Review noted that companies that address menopause openly enjoy improved employee morale, increased retention, and a stronger sense of community (Menopause at Work: The Last Taboo in Employee Wellbeing).
Incorporating menopause into wellness strategies is not only compassionate. It is strategic.
The Business Case for a Menopause-Friendly Workplace
1. Retaining Senior Talent
Women between 45 and 55 years old often occupy senior positions with deep institutional knowledge. Providing support during menopause reduces turnover and protects human capital. The UK Government Equalities Office estimates that menopause related productivity losses cost the global economy over 150 billion dollars.
2. Advancing Equity and Inclusion
When companies validate menopause as part of a broader wellness policy, they affirm gender equity and demonstrate respect for lived experiences. This shift moves healthcare benefits beyond one size fits all approaches.
3. Reducing Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Access to supportive care options and flexible accommodations can reduce both absenteeism and presenteeism, the latter being especially common in midlife women who continue to work while unwell.
4. Enhancing Employer Branding
Organizations that support women during menopause stand out. They signal modernity, empathy, and forward thinking culture. This can become a significant recruitment advantage in industries like healthcare, finance, and technology.
Key Features of a Menopause Friendly Workplace
1. Education and Awareness
Employers should start with education. Workshops led by healthcare professionals, including naturopathic doctors and licensed acupuncturists, can build awareness and reduce stigma. When leadership understands the biological and emotional dimensions of menopause, the entire culture shifts.
2. Inclusive Policies and Expanded Benefits
Workplace policies should explicitly address menopause. Examples include:
Paid time off for medical or wellness appointments
Flexible hours or hybrid work models to accommodate energy fluctuations
Access to holistic therapies such as acupuncture or counseling
Expanded mental health services for midlife transitions
3. Environmental Adjustments
Simple physical changes make a difference. Adjustable lighting, desk fans, breathable uniforms, and access to temperature controlled spaces are all thoughtful ways to improve comfort and function.
4. Holistic Therapeutic Access
Holistic care plays a vital role in menopause management. Evidence supports the use of therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and breathwork to reduce hot flashes, anxiety, and insomnia. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine confirmed the benefits of integrative care for women in midlife.
At Saffron and Sage, our practitioners combine traditional healing methods with evidence based science to provide comprehensive support during menopause. Nutritional guidance, somatic therapy, and lifestyle coaching are core components of our care model.
5. Leadership Engagement and Cultural Integration
Managers and team leads shape organizational tone. Providing training in compassionate communication and psychological safety encourages open dialogue. This culture of validation reduces stigma and fosters stronger, more resilient teams.
The Holistic Health Perspective: Beyond Hormones
Menopause is not just a hormonal event. It is a full spectrum transition that affects body, mind, and spirit. Holistic medicine recognizes this interconnectedness and offers tools that work in synergy with conventional care.
Nutritional counseling supports hormone metabolism. Acupuncture stabilizes the nervous system and reduces vasomotor symptoms. Breathwork and mindfulness anchor emotional resilience. Together, these therapies reduce the burden of menopause and empower women to navigate the journey with confidence.
At Saffron and Sage, we partner with employers to bring these therapies into the workplace through custom wellness programs, on site services, and practitioner guided education. We believe that midlife should be a time of renewed vitality, not marginalization.
Practical Steps for Employers
Implementing menopause friendly policies does not require a massive overhaul. It starts with intention and thoughtful planning:
Review current wellness offerings and identify gaps related to women’s health
Create space for education through workshops, webinars, or lunch and learns
Amend policies to include menopause under wellbeing and DEI initiatives
Engage holistic health providers to offer individualized support
Normalize the conversation across all levels of leadership
By doing so, employers communicate one essential truth: that the health and wellbeing of midlife women matter.
The Future of Employee Wellbeing Is Inclusive
Menopause belongs at the center of employee wellbeing strategies. As the workforce evolves, inclusivity must expand to encompass life transitions that affect performance, purpose, and engagement.
Supporting women through menopause is not just a benefit. It is a cornerstone of long-term sustainability, talent retention, and compassionate leadership. It strengthens company culture while meeting the real needs of a vital segment of the workforce.
Partner with Saffron & Sage for Holistic Workplace Wellbeing
At Saffron & Sage, we specialize in holistic healthcare that integrates traditional therapies, modern science, and compassionate care. Our expert holistic health practitioners provide individualized therapies for menopause, stress, and overall employee wellbeing.
Whether your organization is seeking to develop a menopause-friendly culture, implement workplace wellbeing programs, or provide on-site therapy options, our team in San Diego can help guide you through a science-based, holistic approach to employee care.
Contact Saffron & Sage at 619-933-2340 to learn more about our workplace wellbeing programs and discover how holistic healthcare can transform your organization’s culture and performance.