Practices such as increasing awareness and enabling flexibility are being encouraged
Canadian employers are being pushed to foster inclusivity regarding menopause as around one-quarter of the Canadian workforce are made up of women in the prime age for perimenopause and menopause.
According to Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC)’s Menopause and Work in Canada report, the unmanaged symptoms of menopause has cost the economy around $3.5 billion every year. This is largely because of missed days of work, reduced productivity, and the loss of income for women during their peak earning years.
Notably, many working women have deemed menopause as something that they should endure in silence. This approach has inevitably led to negative impacts on one’s emotional well-being.
In order to address this issue, MFC’s recent Menopause Works Here Best Practices for Employers event outlined best practices which employers can utilize to support their employees which are undergoing this stage in their life.
Some of the best practices include supporting education and awareness, securing leadership buy-in, rethinking policies and benefits, enabling flexibility, and providing tools and guidance.
“This is a pivotal moment for Canadian employers. We've never had so many women in midlife playing such a vital role in the economy. The good news is it's not a heavy lift to make a big difference: simple, practical steps can help women thrive while boosting organizational success,” said Janet Ko, president and co-founder of MFC.
Some HR leaders have revealed steps that are currently being taken by their companies to support employees that are undergoing perimenopause and menopause. Sun Life Health Senior Vice President Marie-Chantal Côté said that the firm had been developing comprehensive tool kits and detailed reports. Sun Life has also provided sponsorship for MFC regarding this endeavor.
Meanwhile, Lisa Rosen, director for Total Rewards at PwC Canada, said that the company had launched a comprehensive Menopause Strategy that included a resource hub and a monthly Menopause Talking Circles.
MFC is a national non-profit advocacy organization that was created to raise awareness regarding the impact of menopause on women as well as society, with the mission to remove the stigma and taboos when it comes to menopause.
