More than a third of working women worry that their age will have a negative impact on their job (38%), according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 working Americans found that fears of ageism in the workplace are real, with baby boomers (43%) expressing the most concern.
Those worried about the impact on their job due to their age are concerned about their physical mobility and health (42%), how much work they can do (37%) and the impact of a major health change such as menopause on their job (23%).
The results showed that health is a common topic of discussion in the workplace (47%), and found that 55% of people feel comfortable talking to their colleagues about any topic – more so among men than women (62% vs 53%).
The survey, conducted by Talker Research for Intimina, also revealed that when it comes to women, specifically, women who work under a female manager are more likely to consider their workplace a safe space for all conversations (57% vs. 48%).
Generation X (49%) and Millennials (48%) are most likely to want to discuss health in the workplace, and the same is true for women compared to men (50% vs. 38%).
Those who are comfortable discussing their health with coworkers said it comes up naturally in conversation (44%) and because they are generally comfortable talking about it (38%).
On the other hand, those who don’t feel comfortable discussing their health at work prefer to keep their work and personal lives separate (34%) and said it doesn’t come up naturally (23%).
Looking at their attitudes towards women’s health concerns at work, half of respondents believe women should take time off work during menopausal and menstrual symptoms (49% each) – an average of around four days for either symptom.
Women are more likely to think they should get leave for menopause (51% vs. 42%) and menstruation (51% vs. 46%), as well as for women who work in a majority-female workplace.
“We recognise that women experience menopause and menstrual symptoms with varying degrees of intensity,” said Dunja Kokotovic, global brand manager at Intimina. “While some women can manage these symptoms with minimal disruption, others may feel they need time off to recover and maintain their wellbeing. The fact that nearly half of women believe they should have the option to take time off during these periods highlights the importance of acknowledging and supporting female-specific health needs in the workplace.”
Whether leave is already available or not, 73% believe it is important for workplaces to create an environment where women feel comfortable asking for leave or support due to menstruation or menopause.
Although most people are comfortable having these conversations, one in seven respondents feel embarrassed talking to co-workers about their health, and a fifth do not feel comfortable talking to their manager about their health (19%).
Among those whose manager is of the opposite gender, 40 percent said they would feel more comfortable talking with them about health concerns if they were of the same gender, including 41 percent of women.
Only half of women feel they would feel supported at their workplace if they were experiencing menopause symptoms that were affecting their ability to work (51%), while baby boomers (41%) are the least confident.
The survey asked 500 women going through menopause and found that only 38% of these women said their superior was aware of this, and this was more common for women who had female managers (44% vs 24%).
Seven in 10 women currently experiencing menopause said they push themselves to the limit at work (71%), while dealing with symptoms such as fatigue (51%), exhaustion (48%) and irritability (47%), so that no one thinks differently of them.
But perhaps help is closer than they think: 71% of women would offer extra support to a colleague going through the menopause.
“We encourage workplaces to create environments where women feel supported and understood, especially when dealing with menopause,” Kokotovic said. “While symptoms such as fatigue and irritability are more commonly recognized, it’s important to be aware of lesser-known symptoms women may experience, such as a burning sensation in the mouth (5%), a feeling of jitters (6%), and an irregular heartbeat (10%).”
“For those in the workplace looking to provide support, understanding these less recognised symptoms can make a significant difference in helping colleagues get through this challenging phase with greater comfort and confidence.”
Topics commonly discussed by respondents at the workplace
- TV/Movies — 54%
- Family — 47%
- Health – 47%
- Music — 43%
- Hobbies — 43%
Survey Methodology:
Tocker Research surveyed 2,000 working Americans (at least 500 of whom are menopausal women); the survey was conducted by Intimina and administered and conducted online by Tocker Research between August 1 and August 7, 2024.
