Invisible Women in the Workplace

Menopause and the stigma

Menopause, which lasts an average of eight years, is a natural process that can be accompanied by symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances and concentration problems. In many workplaces, menopause is not openly discussed and women rarely have a safe space to talk about it. This lack of communication leads to stigmatization, which has a significant negative impact on the working atmosphere. Women are therefore reluctant to talk about their suffering and are unable to receive adequate support: they suffer in silence. The first Swiss study on the impact of menopause on work was conducted in July 2023. It revealed that 59% of women surveyed felt less confident than before and 48% were concerned about how their work was evaluated.

The effects of menopause in the workplace are evident in various areas, but three main points stand out: absenteeism, presenteeism and ‘leavism’. Absenteeism, characterised by an increase in unexpected absences, is common among women going through menopause. Presenteeism refers to employees going to work despite symptoms that are detrimental to their health in order to complete their tasks. While this commitment is commendable, it can lead to a higher error rate. ‘Leavism’ refers to employees taking their annual leave but, instead of taking time off work, using this time to catch up on work. Postmenopausal women also use this strategy. Overall, these three aspects show that menopause in the workplace not only brings physical and emotional challenges, but also challenges traditional patterns of absence and presence, requiring a more comprehensive and problem-aware work culture.

Menopause and the shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland

The current shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland is reaching unprecedented levels. It is due to an ageing population and growth in employment. In this context, it is important to note that the fastest-growing demographic group is women over 45. If the specific needs of this group of working women are not taken into account, the economy will lose a considerable number of experienced and well-trained employees. The figures are clear: up to 15% of women who go through menopause end their careers and up to 30% reduce their working hours.

Economic impact and opportunities

This situation entails significant costs. The cost of replacing an employee is at least half of her annual salary. In Switzerland alone, the costs associated with women leaving during menopause amount to more than 2 billion Swiss francs. In addition, the loss of skilled women is particularly critical for management positions, as many leave the company due to a lack of support or forego promotion. Menopause also offers great opportunities for companies that actively address this issue. Those that promote a culture of support can gain a clear competitive advantage. By introducing targeted measures, they can not only promote the health of their female employees, but also increase their productivity. The introduction of flexible working models, special resources and awareness training for managers helps to retain talent and strengthen employee loyalty to the company. Open communication about menopause also creates an inclusive working environment that promotes diversity and trust.

By Dr Joëlle Zingraff, Co-CEO The Women Circle Joëlle is a passionate scientist and founder of The Women Circle. She is married and has three sons. A graduate of EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne), she worked as an engineer in various industries. For the past 12 years, she has been working in the food supplement sector. She particularly enjoys combining science with health. She therefore decided to co-found a start-up serving women going through the menopause. She is determined to help women improve their physical and mental health during the menopause. She offers her expertise on the subject to companies to raise awareness of the challenges that this stage of women's lives can present. Meet Joëlle and our community in Geneva at our WDS event in partnership with eBay. Learn more...