More than two-thirds of women going through menopause in Austria say their symptoms affect their work, according to a recent survey.
Study authors Andrea Rumler and Julia Memmert urged companies to introduce tailored health programmes to “retain experienced female employees for longer” at a press conference in Vienna on Thursday.
The “MenoSupportAustria” project, conducted by the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) in collaboration with the online portal Wechselweise, surveyed 1,720 female employees in Austria from January to March 2024 about their workplace experiences with menopause.
Nearly 21% reported reducing their working hours due to symptoms, while 14.4% of women over 55 are either considering or have already opted for early retirement.
“Menopause is not just a personal issue. When women retire early or cut back their hours because their needs during this stage are not taken seriously, it damages companies and heightens the risk of poverty in old age,” said Veronika Pelikan, founder of Wechselweise.
Respondents’ top request is for greater awareness among management (72.2%), followed by flexible working hours (70%) and the creation of a “menopause-friendly work culture” (69.1%). Over half of those surveyed seek employer support. However, one in five fears being disadvantaged due to menopause symptoms. Nearly 60% feel “unsupported during the menopause process” at work, according to the findings.
Some 23.1% of respondents had already taken sick leave due to symptoms, 20.8% had reduced their working hours, 15.2% had taken a career break, 12.5% had changed jobs, and 8.3% had opted for early retirement.
Menopause, a phase of hormonal change typically beginning in mid-life and lasting ten to fifteen years, can cause a range of physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood swings.