Menopause: The Silent Career Disruptor

By: Dr. Sarah Berg

How a natural transition is quietly reshaping leadership, productivity, and the future of work.

What if the biggest threat to women’s careers isn’t burnout or bias—but biology?

Midlife should be the prime of a woman’s professional life—when experience meets influence.
Yet for millions of women, this season collides with another: menopause.

And while menopause is natural, the silence surrounding it is not.

The Numbers Tell the Story

In the U.S. alone:

• 💸 $1.8 billion is lost each year from missed workdays due to menopause symptoms.

• 💼 Another $26 billion is lost annually through reduced productivity and excess healthcare costs.

• In the U.K., 1 in 5 women have considered leaving their jobs, and 1 in 10 have missed work in the past year because of menopause symptoms.

(Sources: The Menopause Society, Mayo Clinic, Fawcett Society)

These numbers don’t just represent inconvenience—they represent lost leadership, lost mentorship, and lost innovation.

A Story From the Exam Room

One of my favorite patients—a powerhouse attorney—came in for her annual exam.
When I entered the room, she was flushed, arms outstretched like wings, trying to cool herself under the world’s least flattering clinic gown.

She tried to smile through it, pretending nothing was wrong.
But that moment of honesty opened a conversation.

She admitted she dreaded big meetings, terrified of having a hot flash mid-presentation.
Her insomnia left her foggy. Her once razor-sharp focus was slipping away under exhaustion and stress.

“I used to own the room,” she said. “Now I just hope I can make it through the meeting.”

She planned to hide it—like millions of women do every day.

How have we built workplaces where women must hide their biology to be seen as competent?

The Economic and Leadership Toll

This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a systemic one.

When mid-career women step back, burn out, or quietly disappear, companies lose more than employees. They lose institutional knowledge, leadership pipelines, and the steadying presence of experienced voices.

Women aged 45–60 are the fastest-growing segment of the global workforce.
Ignoring menopause isn’t just outdated—it’s economically reckless.

Who’s Getting It Right

Some countries are finally taking action:

• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: National “Menopause in the Workplace” policy recommendations, and 600+ employers have signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge.

• 🇦🇺 Australia: Government inquiry into menopause’s economic impact.

• 🇪🇸 Spain: Legislation for menstrual and menopause-related leave.

And forward-thinking companies are following suit:

• Vodafone – Global menopause policy with flexible working and paid leave.

• Microsoft – Added menopause-specific benefits to global health plans.

• Co-op Group (UK) – Developed a manager training guide for supporting employees through menopause.

• Bayer – Partnered with the UNFPA to expand menopause awareness globally.

These aren’t perks—they’re retention strategies.

What Needs to Happen Next

1️⃣ Personal Awareness

Menopause education shouldn’t stop at the individual.
Women deserve knowledge about their bodies, and men deserve understanding so they can support coworkers, partners, and teams.

2️⃣ Corporate Responsibility

Businesses that normalize menopause conversations gain an edge in loyalty, retention, and innovation.
It’s time for menopause to move from taboo to talent strategy.

3️⃣ Policy Change

In the U.S., we’re lagging behind global peers.
National frameworks for workplace accommodations, bias protection, and employee education are long overdue.

Why This Matters to Every Leader

If companies say they value women in leadership, they must value the full arc of women’s biology—not just the first half of their careers.

We can’t afford to lose brilliant women to a transition we refuse to name.
It’s time to make menopause a leadership conversation, not a whispered one.

Closing Reflection

When women rise, businesses rise.
It’s that simple—and that vital.

Sources

• The Menopause Society. Menopause and the Workplace: Consensus Recommendations. Menopause. 2023.

• Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The Economic Burden of Work Loss and Health Care Costs Associated With Menopausal Symptoms. 2023.

• The Fawcett Society. Menopause and the Workplace Position Paper. 2022.

💬 Ready to Keep Learning?

If this conversation resonates, explore Menopause, Explained  — my evidence-based digital masterclass that helps women understand their bodies, manage symptoms, and protect long-term health.

Or start small with Menopause, Essentials  — your roadmap for mastering the fundamentals.

→ Because when you understand your body, you protect your power.