Workplace guide developed to raise awareness about menopause

Alberta Blue Cross has developed a new work- place guide to help employers and employees address a critical but often overlooked challenge in today’s workforce: menopause.

According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, Menopause is defined as “the permanent cessation of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian follicles, resulting in hypoestro- genism and the end of reproductive potential.” “The average age of menopause in Canada is 51 years, however, typically ranges between 45 – 55 years.”

Victoria Chin, drug benefit management man- ager with Alberta Blue Cross says the guide was designed to help employers and employees regard- less of which company they use for benefits within their workplace.

“The guide is kind of a one stop document that really provides employers the background to under- stand the impacts of menopause in the workplace, while also providing them with information on how they can support their female employees who might be going through menopause,” said Chin.

She said it outlines different workplace strategies that can be used to ensure managers are aware of menopause and how they can support their em- ployees.

“It’s really just trying to put all the information for employers to reference versus trying to find all of this information in various resources,” said Chin.

She said menopause has symptoms like fatigue, brain fog and mood swings that can affect employ- ees in their regular activities, but many women continue to suffer in silence because of stigma, lack of awareness and limited access to resources.

And since too often, employers are unsure how to respond, that’s where Alberta Blue Cross’s new workplace guide, using health benefits to support menopause in the workplace comes in.

“This guide offers evidence on the real impact of menopause on employee wellbeing and

productivity, insights into the economic and equity costs of inaction, and practical, actionable strategies for employers including benefit recom- mendations, accommodation practices, manager training and education,” said Chin.

She said the guide provides data from recent research that quantifies the impact of menopause in the workplace by affecting the day-to-day activities of women.

According to the Menopause Foundation of Canada, an estimated $3.5 billion in annual economic losses in Canada is due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause and an estimated one in 10 women will leave the workforce due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause.

The Menopause in the Workplace Guide
can be found and downloaded at https://www. ab.bluecross.ca/resources/health-wellness/wom- ens-health/menopause-guide.php