Two thirds of women experiencing perimenopause or menopause say their work has been impacted, according to research by MetLife.
The insurer quizzed 355 women with 69% saying their work had been detrimentally affected by perimenopause or menopause symptoms.
However, two thirds (65%) of those who had or were experiencing perimenopause or menopause said they were not comfortable talking to their bosses about it and the effect on their work.
The same proportion admitted to suffering low moods and mood swings, and hot flushes including excessive sweating and night sweats, with 62% having difficulty sleeping.
Half of women had headaches while 45% said memory and concentration was affected.
As a result, 23% have had to work late to make up for time off work due to their symptoms and health appointments, while 22% admitted to making mistakes or missing deadlines.
One in six women had missed out on workplace social events or external meetings, with 11% saying the menopause had impacted their relationship with colleagues.
Only 27% of women said they were able to confide in their manager about their perimenopause or menopause symptoms.
Adrian Matthews, head of employee benefits at MetLife, noted that women need to have the freedom to discuss any issues they may be experiencing, whether that be at home or at work.
“The menopause can’t be left at the threshold, and it helps to have an encouraging and supportive employer to be able to navigate what can be an isolating time in women’s lives,” he said.
“By regularly signposting support and reminding employees about their benefits and the specific menopause resources and policies in place, employers can ensure their staff are properly supported and will go some way to discourage feelings of awkwardness when bringing up female-sensitive conversations.
“Helping women feel heard, supported, and respected can help employers to maintain the hard-fought careers of women and see them through this chapter in their lives within the workplace.”