Menopausal people are the fastest-growing demographic in the workplace worldwide. But 90% agree there’s a negative stigma around menopause.

The numbers don’t lie. Menopause can be detrimental to people’s mental and physical well-being. The trouble is, it’s not widely spoken about or understood.

AllBright’s founding principle is when women come together, amazing things happen. That’s why we’ve teamed up with No7 to change the face of menopause at work.

We chatted to four people about how they navigated their transition in tandem with work. Introducing Executive Assistant at EBRD Ruth Anno-Barnieh, Performance & Wellbeing Coach Nathalie Maunder, Co-founder of Mission Menopause Elissa Dodson, and Freelance Change Consultant, Julie Paice.

Over 40% of people are ashamed to talk about their menopause experience, so thank you for talking about it so candidly with us. But why do you think this is?

Ruth: I think it’s because for so long women’s health – especially our sexual health – has been a taboo subject, to be discussed in private with either your doctor or a close family member or friend. Menopause, in particular, usually denotes a stage in a person's life where they're getting old and this is something a lot of people (especially in Western culture) are ashamed to admit, embrace, or discuss freely because of the constant images of youth being shown as being better.

Nathalie: I have never been shy or ashamed to talk about my experience of menopause. As it happened to me while I was in my thirties, I feel it offers an easy explanation as to why I don’t have children. I can still remember how I felt during this time, so when others have confided in me about this topic, I feel happy to share my experience if it’s appropriate and helpful in those moments. I think it’s important to say that as everyone’s experience is different, I don’t give advice but share information and details of my own transition through this stage.

Elissa: One of the key reasons is that many people don’t necessarily understand or recognise menopause symptoms, due to a fundamental lack of women’s health education. And even when they do connect their symptoms to menopause, there is a definite stigma that they should ‘just get on with it’ or ‘not make a fuss’.

In the workplace, where it is likely that colleagues are a mix of age and gender, any discussion related to hormones can be seen as a sensitive topic. It is time to bring the conversation into our everyday vocabulary and recognise the importance and impact of hormones for all!

Julie: I think women can be slightly defensive about anything they feel could be construed as a limitation. Over the years, we’ve had so many challenges in finding our place and our voice that sometimes we don’t embrace being women ourselves. But if we don’t, how could we expect anyone else to?

However, I think things are improving. Certainly, information, awareness, and wider education is more visible and available, and we’ve made some great strides forward around the acknowledgement of the challenges menopause can present in the workplace. It feels like the tide is starting to turn and the discomfort around menopause being discussed is being eroded or removed. I think it’s also a bit generational. I’m hoping that my generation will be the last who find it difficult to discuss and acknowledge what we experience, and that those coming behind us are far more open and accept their right to still make a significant contribution and difference.

What do you wish you had known before your menopause?

Ruth: That there are different stages of it – perimenopause and menopause. I asked my mum when her menopause started and she couldn’t remember the exact year, so I started reading about it when I turned 50, as I knew it was coming.

Nathalie: Menopause was always something that happened to “older” people. So, prior to my own menopause, I only ever thought of it as when a woman’s period stopped. The subject, the potential symptoms, and the whole transition through this stage are so much more than this one moment. Therefore, education and a general understanding of what perimenopause and menopause are would have been helpful.

Elissa: I wish I’d had some formal education about what menopause is, how it may affect me personally, and how to proactively manage the journey.

It felt that my life had been blindsided by the effects of menopause, with no prior warning or available support. I didn’t have the vocabulary to describe what was happening to me, and the lack of knowledge resulted in me feeling like I was losing my mind. I had no idea that there were so many physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms and that the experience for every person going through it would be so unique.

Julie: I wish I had known where to go for help and to discuss options. I have an underlying health condition, so the response to me asking for help was that I couldn’t get any! I have since learned that I could have done, so would not have had to navigate the experience with no medical support or help. I wish I had been more challenging about pushing to find the right path. Unfortunately, I took the first answer and was too busy to find another! I wish this awareness and campaign had been happening 10 years ago.

Nearly 1 in 4 menopausal people experience debilitating symptoms. What are the biggest physical challenges you face as a menopausal person in the workplace?

Ruth: So far, I haven’t faced any physical challenges at work. My workplace organised a seminar on menopause earlier this year. I guess since this is now a trending topic, it was included in our Diversity Week events. It was very informative and helpful.

Nathalie: In my experience, I felt physical symptoms intertwine with both mental and emotional symptoms. While there were the physical symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, and prickly skin, it was the collective, whole-encompassing feeling that intensified the overwhelming feelings and made it difficult to focus and find clarity. It is very difficult to articulate the feelings that were present during this time, the only thing that comes to mind to sum it up is that my mind and body felt like they were suffocating.

Elissa: I suffered from a changing menstrual cycle, with some periods being sudden and incredibly heavy. I needed regular access to the bathroom and would have really benefitted from easily available sanitary products, to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. I also experienced significant joint pain in my fingers. Some mornings, my hands were so stiff it would be nearly impossible to type or hold a pen, which is difficult to explain in an office environment and had a knock-on impact on my confidence and ability to do my job.

Severe headaches and migraines also affected my ability to work. I did wonder whether I had a more serious issue, but I now recognise that these were hormone-related. It may have been beneficial to agree on some reasonable adjustments with my manager to consider the impact of the physical symptoms.

Julie: Total lack of temperature control – total nightmare! Nothing worse than being in the middle of a big presentation and totally losing the ability to keep your temperature under control. Going through a full-blown hot flush, feeling sweaty and flushed when being stared at by a room full of people and feeling that you can’t even acknowledge it, let alone seek a solution, has given me some of the worst moments of my working life.

What are the biggest mental challenges you face as someone experiencing menopause at work?

Nathalie: Clarity and focus were my biggest mental challenges. Unfortunately, these symptoms can be detrimental to multiple areas of your life. It’s like a domino effect that can affect work, family, and relationships. When I was going through these mental challenges, I knew I didn’t feel right, but it's only retrospectively that I can reflect on how it was and what was happening.

Elissa: I suffered from significant brain fog. I would sit in meetings and could not remember the names of my colleagues I’d worked with for years. In addition to causing anxiety, if it becomes a joke amongst colleagues, this can be even more damaging, both on a personal and professional level.

I also suffered from debilitating anxiety and mood swings, which my GP prescribed anti-depressants for without ever discussing that it may be related to hormonal changes. These symptoms affected my ability to manage my teams and support my direct reports.

Most seriously, I suffered from a huge lack of confidence which resulted in me leaving my career of over a decade. I no longer felt I could do my job or had the support of management. In hindsight, I recognise that, at no point, did the topic of menopause come up in any conversation with my manager, HR team, Occupational Health, or GP. If I’d had the opportunity to discuss my symptoms holistically and without judgement, the decision to leave my career at the time may have been different.

Julie: Mental challenges for me I would say were mostly self-inflicted. The feeling that I’m not operating at a normal level or speed is something in my head that has never been endorsed or challenged by anyone else. The tiredness certainly does make it harder, but we work harder and push through. The frustration of a tired day, where you are struggling to focus and thinking it’s your fault, is such a negative experience. It’s no one’s fault and we all have days where we haven’t slept as well, whether we are going through menopause or not!

Davina McCall recalled her own experience of menopause "I thought, I'm not ok, I think I've got a brain tumour, or I've got Alzheimer's or something." What do you think can be done to increase awareness of this stage of people’s lives?

Ruth: Providing spaces where we can talk about it unashamedly and freely. The awareness has started with people talking amongst themselves. For example, I speak to my younger sister about it (she’s in her 40s), who wants to know what symptoms to look out for, as well as educational social media platforms, TV shows, articles in magazines, and podcasts.

Nathalie: If both men and women were given a basic education about menopause, it wouldn’t be such a taboo subject. So many of the misconceptions around menopause could be addressed. I’ve lost count of the times my prescription Estrogel has been thrown around airport security in a humiliating way. Funnily enough it is normally either an ‘older’ woman or a man who comes to the rescue. There have been a couple of occasions where I’ve had younger people snigger and laugh about it which is quite concerning.

Elissa: Personally, I see that menopause is at a similar stage to mental health about ten years ago. Menopause and the impact of hormones need to be discussed at every level and become part of the norm. The conversation needs to encompass everyone, as the hormonal impact has a ripple effect beyond the individual.

By introducing menopause awareness training and signposting for all employees, the topic will no longer be taboo, and individuals should be able to access support and information in a safe and open way. Managers need to feel confident in recognising the signs of menopause and have the skills to hold sensitive and supportive conversations with staff. There needs to be more emphasis and training for our healthcare professionals, many of whom have not received up-to-date and relevant education.

76% of menopausal people don't feel represented by brands. What are some brands you've seen championing menopause?

Ruth: To be honest, for years, I think most brands have jumped on the bandwagon by producing all these anti-ageing skin and hair products, which are targeted at older and menopausal women. But the one brand I have noticed recently using the word menopause in their actual branding and marketing is No7.

Nathalie: I have seen that Boots have many products aimed towards menopause in their skincare No7 range and their vitamin range. There appears to be a lot of helpful information surrounding this initiative and, therefore, if it helps with symptoms, education, and awareness, then I think this is wonderful. I just feel brands need to be doing it for the right reasons and have some responsibility in their offering, as it’s a complex medical issue that needs to be addressed with a degree of professionalism.

Elissa: There is a definite increase in products that are visibly championing menopause, such as MegsMenopause food supplements, CBD oil, Menopace multivitamins, Tena incontinence pads. For skin and hair care, there’s No7, Pantene, and Plantur.

Julie: I think it’s still a bit of a whisper! There are lots of ranges of menopause-specific products being launched, particularly in the beauty and healthcare industries, but it’s not often shouted about.

What advice would you give to people who will experience menopause one day?

Ruth: Don’t be afraid – it’s part of the journey as a woman. If the journey gets bumpy, there’s so much help and advice, you just must go out there and seek it. There’s no need to be ashamed of this point in your life. We now know what to eat and drink, to exercise, to prioritise self-care – and you must make sure you’re in a work environment that proactively promotes women’s health. It’s your responsibility to look after yourself and you should enjoy and embrace this part of your fabulous journey.

Nathalie: I would say to listen to your body. You are the only one who really understands how you are feeling. Don’t expect your partner, family, or friends to be understanding, but if you can, try to talk about it with them to help them understand. Be kind to yourself and seek expert help. HRT has worked for me, although I understand not everyone wants to take it.

Elissa: You are never too young to learn about menopause! Don’t wait until it is happening to you because you may not recognise it. Engage in the conversation about what menopause is, how it can affect you, and what you can do to help yourself. Educate yourself and others in order to bring awareness to the impact the hormonal change has in the workplace and among colleagues, friends, and family. Empower the change for future generations to normalise the topic – ensure there is signposting and support at all times. Remember, you are not on your own!

Julie: Make sure you get the help you need and don’t be fobbed off by a stock answer – we are all unique, and we all deserve support. My experience of navigating perimenopause without any medical help was horrendous on reflection but I really thought I had no options. There are always options – you just have to fight to find them at the moment. Keep pushing to get what you need, whether it’s medical, physical, psychological, or social. Shout loud, reach out, and keep asking.

Want to join us in Changing The Face Of Menopause At Work? Check out the AllBright x No7 Academy course to learn more and join the conversation.