NEW DELHI: Conversations about women’s health and how it impacts their work life is rarely discussed in Indian offices, and around menopause, the silence seems deafening.Recently, the Karnataka cabinet greenlighted a day’s paid off each month as menstrual period leave for all women workers in the state. While not the same thing, the recognition of menstrual period distress has sparked conversation around menopause too.For many women, menopause arrives with more than physical changes. It brings anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes and mood swings. Workplaces remain largely unequipped to support them through this phase.“Menopause isn’t just a biological shift. It deeply impacts emotional well-being,” said Dr Sunita Varma, head of the department of gynaecology at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. “For working women, constant hormonal fluctuations can translate to irritability, poor concentration, a decrease in work efficiency, brain fog or even burnout. Many studies show that a woman’s promotion and salary hike are impacted after their 50s, which also heightens their distress.”
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Shanti Santosh, 51, an executive at Manav Rachna University in Faridabad, said the experience was overwhelming. “There is hardly any conversation about how a workplace can better support women. Awareness and empathy levels are low,” she said. “If organisations become more open about it, it would make women feel valuable and supported.”Across Europe, a growing number of women are leaving the workforce or scaling back their careers because of menopause. In the UK, a 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that one in ten women had left her jobs because of menopausal symptoms. A 2024 report by the Reward & Employee Benefits Association said 42% had considered quitting. In Germany, around a quarter of women experiencing menopause have reduced their working hours or exited the workforce altogether, according to research commissioned by Bayer.In India, the conversation is just beginning. Mimansa Singh Tanwar, a clinical psychologist at Fortis Healthcare, said: “Hormonal imbalances during menopause can cause sleep disruption, hot flashes and mood fluctuations — all of which impact productivity. These are not excuses. They’re physiological realities that deserve empathy.”There is no one-size-fits-all approach as workplaces are varied, but policies can be tweaked to allow women an easier transition during this phase. Sensitisation programmes play a huge part as do inclusive policies that provide flexibility to women, Dr Sunita said.A holistic approach to menopause support goes beyond medical or policy interventions, and includes emotional and lifestyle well-being.Nutrition counselling, mindfulness sessions, yoga and stress management workshops can help. Encouraging open conversations about self-care, rest and balance can also reduce stigma. By integrating such practices into wellness initiatives, organisations can promote a culture where menopause is viewed as a natural transition, not a professional setback.Kailash Nair, a senior manager at EY India, said that change begins with policy and sensitivity. “This conversation is much needed at an organisational level. There’s a long way to go for Indian workplaces to equip themselves with menopausefriendly policies…. Our organisation’s policy ensures flexible work arrangements where women can take sabbaticals, go on abreak or work remotely.”Experts say the time is ripe for Indian workplaces to pivot.
