THE AGING WORKFORCE: MENOPAUSE AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE
THE AGING WORKFORCE: MENOPAUSE AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE

Author(s): Jasna Hanižjar-Berlančić, Terezija Berlančić
Subject(s): Gender Studies, National Economy, Labor relations, Social Theory, Gerontology, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku
Keywords: aging workforce; cognitive decline; menopause; productivity; vasomotor symptoms;
Summary/Abstract: Women over 50 years old are one of the fastest-growing groups of employees. Over half of the female workforce in Europe, Australia, and the USA are women who have entered or are entering menopause. Menopause is a significant physiological process in a woman’s life caused by a decrease in ovarian function and hormonal changes, which are accompanied by hot flushes, dizziness, vaginal dryness and forgetfulness. According to a Mayo Clinic study, based on workdays missed due to menopause symptoms, there is an estimated annual loss of $1.8 billion in the USA. Menopause does not only affect women’s overall health but also their productivity and work performance. Menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on work, but menopause is rarely talked about in the workplace. Menopause symptoms such as vasomotor, psychosocial and genitourinary have a significant impact on women’s work life during the menopausal transition and even postmenopause, causing them to take more sick leaves, change their work patterns and shifts or even quit their job altogether. Recent studies show that estrogen plays an essential role in the neurobiology of cognitive processing and that menopause is associated with subtle cognitive decline, which can further affect job performance. In this chapter, we will analyze the effect of menopause on the female workforce, emphasizing menopausal symptoms and their effect on work productivity and effectiveness as well as workplace support.

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