---
title: "Menopause Symptoms Push One in Ten Women Out of Work: 8 Steps to Get the Support You Need and Stay"
description: Menopause symptoms push one in ten women out of work. Eight steps to get treatment, workplace adjustments and the support UK employers now owe you.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-10-28T21:41:05.032Z
updated: 2026-10-28T21:43:34.803Z
canonical: https://richhealthmagazine.com/article/menopause-at-work-support
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-8730035.webp
categories: Health
content_type: Guide
publication: Rich Health Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

Most women in the UK reach menopause around the age of 51, but the symptoms often begin years earlier, during perimenopause. As levels of oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall unpredictably, you may experience hot flushes, night sweats, broken sleep, heavy or irregular periods, joint pain, anxiety, low mood and [difficulty concentrating or finding words](https://richhealthmagazine.com/article/what-menopause-is-actually-doing-to-your-brain). These symptoms often arrive in your mid-forties, just as you reach the most senior stage of your career.

Around one in ten women who work through menopause leave a job over their symptoms. Many more reduce their hours, turn down promotions or stay silent and struggle. Every one of those losses is avoidable with the right treatment and a few changes at work.

The rules are also changing. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, UK employers with 250 or more staff can now publish a menopause action plan alongside their gender pay gap data, and [from 2027 this becomes a legal requirement](https://richhealthmagazine.com/article/iso-45010-workplace-period-menopause-standard). Each plan must include at least one concrete action to support employees through menopause. Menopause is not a protected characteristic in its own right, but symptoms can be covered by existing protections against sex, age and disability discrimination.

## 1. Track your symptoms for a month

Note each day how you slept, when hot flushes hit, how your mood felt and when concentration slipped. A month of notes shows patterns, such as worse mornings after night sweats, and gives you clear evidence to take to your GP and your manager.

## 2. See your GP about treatment

Hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for many menopause symptoms, and for most women under 60 its benefits outweigh the risks. Your GP can talk you through the options, including patches, gels and tablets. Cognitive behavioural therapy also helps with hot flushes, sleep problems and low mood. If your GP lacks experience in this area, ask for an appointment with a colleague who has a special interest in menopause.

## 3. Read your employer's menopause policy

Many employers now have a menopause policy, a trained network of menopause champions or both. Find out what your company offers before you raise the subject, so you know which support already exists and which you need to request.

## 4. Ask for practical adjustments

Small changes often make the biggest difference. [Ask for a desk fan](https://richhealthmagazine.com/article/andrea-howard-8-tips-to-instantly-cool-down-038-improve-your-mental-health-during-menopause), a seat near a window you can open or away from a radiator, uniforms in breathable fabrics, easy access to toilets and cold drinking water and the option to take short breaks. If poor sleep makes early starts hard, ask for flexible start times. In video meetings, ask to keep your camera off during a hot flush.

## 5. Use occupational health

If your employer has an occupational health service, ask for a referral. An occupational health adviser can recommend adjustments to your manager in writing, which carries weight and protects you if the conversation becomes difficult.

## 6. Put every agreement in writing

After any conversation with your manager or HR, send a short email summarising what you discussed and what you agreed. This creates a record and makes sure everyone shares the same understanding. Agree a date to review how the changes are working.

## 7. Find allies at work

Talk to colleagues you trust. You are almost certainly not the only woman in your workplace going through this, and a shared request for changes, such as better temperature control or a menopause network, often moves faster than an individual one. ACAS publishes free guidance for employers and employees on menopause at work.

## 8. If you manage people, open the door

If you lead a team, make it easy for your staff to talk to you. Mention menopause support in team meetings so it becomes an ordinary subject, ask privately and kindly if you notice someone struggling and follow through on whatever you agree. Keeping experienced women in your team is far cheaper than replacing them.

Menopause is a natural stage of life, and nobody should lose a career to it. The right treatment and a few practical changes can make your fifties some of your most productive working years.