Menopause in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers and Employees

Menopause as a Workplace Issue

• 🎯 Menopause is a significant workplace issue, impacting approximately 20% of the working population (27 million women).
• ⏳ It's a long-term phase, potentially lasting up to 14 years, and its symptoms do not cease upon entering the workplace.
• 📉 Symptoms like poor sleep and cognitive difficulties can disrupt work, leading an estimated one in seven women to leave or consider leaving their jobs, costing the economy billions in lost productivity.

CVS Health's Menopause-Friendly Approach

• 🌟 CVS Health is a pioneer, being the first US company accredited as a menopause-friendly employer.
• 🏥 Their strategy focuses on holistic women's health, addressing physical, behavioral, and social/environmental factors.
• 🤝 Key pillars include training for healthcare providers and managers, offering concrete benefits like access to trained menopause clinics, and fostering peer support and open conversations.

Supporting Employees Through Menopause

• 💡 Employees should seek knowledge about menopause to understand their symptoms and advocate for their needs.
• 🗣️ Creating a workplace environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their needs is crucial for employers.
• 📈 For employers, recognizing the human capital represented by midlife women and the business case for support—including talent attraction and retention—is vital.

Holistic Women's Health Beyond Menopause

• 💖 A comprehensive women's health strategy is essential, extending beyond symptom management to address long-term health like cardiovascular, bone, and brain health.
• 🌐 CVS Health views women's health holistically across the life journey and addresses conditions disproportionately affecting women, such as behavioral health and musculoskeletal issues.
• 💻 Innovation in healthcare delivery, including digital and retail health options, is key to meeting women's needs given their multifaceted responsibilities.

Guidance for Employers

• ❓ Employers should start by asking what a women's health strategy entails and its business case.
• 📊 Partnering with organizations that can provide data-driven insights and help develop capabilities is recommended.
• 🚀 CVS Health offers guidance and a model for other employers looking to become menopause-friendly, emphasizing that this should be scaled nationwide.