02. May 2024
Menopause affects half of the world's population to some degree or other, and thus a large part of the workforce. Studies in the UK show that failure to address and show consideration for menopausal women has resulted in up to 10% of women leaving the labour market at a time in their lives when they have otherwise accumulated significant knowledge and experience. This has major consequences for the individual woman, who is often affected at the peak of her career, but also for enterprises, which lose valuable resources.
Despite the far-reaching consequences, discomforts experienced by women in connection with their menstrual cycle and menopause have historically been highly tabooed, but changes are on the way: BSI, the British standards institution, has previously published a guideline on menopause and menstrual health in a work context, and now work is starting to develop an international guideline with the same focus area. The trend is that people are now increasingly interested in how and how much women's cycles affect their working lives – and what can be done to remedy this.
In Denmark, there is also an increasing focus on menopause and its consequences, personally and socially: In April 2024, a hearing was held in the Danish Parliament’s Health Committee on the healthcare system's help for women with menopausal disorders, the recurring theme being lack of data, knowledge and guidance for women, the healthcare system and enterprises.
– Menopause is extremely complex, underexposed and overlooked. Menopause has significant consequences – from the personal level to society level – both privately and professionally. There is a need for a significant and long-term effort with research, communication and education, said Associate Professor Lasse Gliemann, the University of Copenhagen, at the hearing in the Health Committee. He researches in cardiovascular health with a focus on menopause.
Lasse Gliemann welcomes the fact that guidance for enterprises will soon be available and believes that the consequences in a Danish context are not without significance: Based on preliminary calculations, he estimates that the socio-economic consequences of menopause in Denmark could amount to more than four billion kroner in lost earnings annually, corresponding to 10,198 lost FTEs and 243,091 doctor visits.
On 4 June 2024, work will begin on the international standard on menopause, menstrual health and menstruation, which will provide enterprises with guidance, tools and a language to address the issue. Lise Schmidt Aagesen, Senior Consultant at Danish Standards, says:
–The major consequences for both the individual and society mean that there is a need for several different efforts in this area. One of them is guidance for enterprises, which gives them tools to address and manage this phase of life in a labour market context.
She also emphasises that the guidance is an important element in supporting enterprises in their work to create socially sustainable workplaces.
Several experts from Danish Standards' committee for socially sustainable workplaces will take part in the standardisation work, and they agree there is a great need for guidance.
Sanne Gottlieb, the first and only Danish menopause advisor, stresses the importance of the upcoming guideline, as she is also experiencing increasing interest from enterprises:
– The prospect of enterprises now receiving guidance is hugely positive. There is massive interest in the area, and there is a need for some concrete tools that enterprises can work from, says Sanne Gottlieb, Menokonsult.
In addition to menopause, the upcoming guideline also cover menstruation and menstrual health, and in this connection, Kathrine Gammelby Lodbjerg, private sector advisor at Sex & Society, says:
– Increased focus on menstrual health and menopause in the workplace is key to creating an inclusive work environment. The subject is tabooed in many workplaces and many myths exist. We need to break with this, and this is why we engage in the development of the standard.
Danish Standards' committee for socially sustainable workplaces (S-803) contributes to the development of the new international standard for menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace. In addition to this, the committee is also involved in the work related to other standards that support socially sustainable workplaces, such as standards for occupational health and safety management, psychological health and safety at work, human resources, as well as equality and diversity.
If you want to know more about Danish Standards' work regarding socially sustainable workplaces or want to participate in the development of the upcoming guideline for enterprises, please contact Lise Schmidt Aagesen.
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