18/10/2026
Today is World Menopause Day and is celebrated annually on 18th October, and the broader Menopause Awareness Month runs throughout the entire month of October.
This year’s theme is Chronic Pain At Midlife - which affects a significant proportion of women during and after the menopause transition, yet it remains underestimated in both research and care.
In the UK:
* Total Days Lost: 14 million working days annually.
* Economic Cost: This absence and reduced productivity equate to approximately £1.88 billion per year in lost productivity.
* Individual Absence: Working women with severe symptoms take an average of 7 days of menopause-related absence per year, while general surveys put the individual average at about 5.5 days.
* Workforce Impact: Roughly 10% of women have left their jobs due to menopausal symptoms, and 1 in 6 have considered leaving.
In the workplace, many sufferers feel that they are not able to share what they are going through with their Line Manager. They often feel threatened by the thought of them knowing, rather than feeling safe enough to ask for support.
Organisations can have all the policies, guidance and support mechanisms in the workplace but if someone doesn’t feel safe enough to speak up, how effective are they?
As HR professionals, leaders and our colleagues, we have a responsibility to create a culture in our workplace where women feel able to talk without fear of judgement or disadvantage.
That means listening, showing empathy and making conversations normal, not waiting until someone is struggling to breaking point.
Menopause is personal. Everyone’s experience is different. But nobody should feel they have to suffer in silence.
