Understanding Menopause at Work
Clear, inclusive education to help your team support midlife health with confidence.
About menopause
Menopause is defined as the day 12 months after a woman’s last period and is a natural transition that typically affects people between the ages of 40 and 60 and includes three phases: perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause. 186 symptoms such as hot flushes, brain fog, sleep issues, mood changes and so many more can begin years before menopause and impact focus, confidence, and performance at work.
Despite this, most workplaces offer little education or support. The result is often silence, stigma, and missed opportunities to retain and empower experienced talent.
Pause Collective helps close that gap with clear, inclusive education—paired with practical tools and strategic support. We’re not just about raising awareness; we’re focused on driving real change through tailored programs, policy guidance, and leadership training that turn knowledge into action.
DATA POINTS
(Sources: Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2024 HER Report)
Women in rural areas are more likely to report intense, disruptive menopausal symptoms and have fewer support options.
Over 1 million Canadians are currently in some stage of menopause or perimenopause.
Menopause affects over half of the workforce at some point in their career—but is still excluded from most wellness strategies.
48% of women say they are too embarrassed to ask for help with symptoms.
There is no formal workplace equivalent to prenatal or menstrual health education when it comes to menopause.
Only 11% of workplaces in Canada offer any menopause-related education or support.
Nearly 40% of women say they’ve never discussed menopause with a healthcare provider.
Resource library
Recommended Websites
Menopause Foundation of Canada - https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/ - The Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC) is a registered non-profit organization that advocates for the support women need in their menopausal years from the health care system, government, business and the broader community.
Canadian Menopause Society - https://www.canadianmenopausesociety.org/ - a multidisciplinary group of family physicians, specialists and other healthcare professionals who are interested in menopausal and postmenopausal health. They aim to advance the health of women at and beyond the menopause transition through education initiatives and knowledge transfer.
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada - https://www.menopauseandu.ca/ SOGC is the Canadian medical specialist organization focused on obstetrics and gynecology. Their mission is “to lead the advancement of women’s health through excellence and collaborative professional practice.”
Menopause Society - https://menopause.org/ The Society is a US-based non profit organization with a mission of “empowering healthcare professional and providing them with the tools and resources they need to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond.”
Great Books
Gunter, J. (2021). The menopause manifesto: Own your health with facts and feminism. Citadel Press.
Haver, M. C. (2024). The new menopause: Navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts. Rodale Books.
Mosconi, L. (2024). The menopause brain: New science empowers women to navigate the pivotal transition with knowledge and confidence. Avery.
Key Research
Banks, J., & Emmerson, C. (2025, March). The menopause penalty (IFS Working Paper WP202510). Institute for Fiscal Studies. https://ifs.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/WP202510-The-menopause-penalty_0.pdf
Faubion, S. S., Avis, N. E., Brown, H. N., Files, J. A., Gass, M. L. S., Kaunitz, A. M., Kean, W. F., Kingsberg, S. A., & Pinkerton, J. V. (2021). Menopause and the workplace: Consensus recommendations from The Menopause Society. Menopause, 28(11), 1275–1286. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001868
Faubion, S. S., Enders, F. T., & Hedges, R. M. (2022). Impact of menopause symptoms on women in the workplace. Menopause, 29(4), 414–419. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001949
Fawcett Society. (2022, April). Menopause and the workplace. https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/menopause-and-the-workplace
Menopause Foundation of Canada. (2023, October). Menopause and work in Canada: A national study of the impact of menopause on women and their careers. https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/menopause-and-work-in-canada-report/
Women's Health Research Institute. (2023). HER-BC: Health and economic research on midlife women in British Columbia [Report]. BC Women’s Health Foundation. https://www.bcwomensfoundation.org/her-bc-report