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A new survey for Vodafone suggests many women are not able to talk about the impact of the menopause at work.
Over two fifths of women in the UK who have experienced menopause symptoms say they have felt too embarrassed to ask for support in the workplace, with nearly two thirds says there needs to be more workplace support, according to a new survey.
The research conducted by Opinium for Vodafone is based on a survey of 5,012 people in five countries [UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and South Africa] who had experienced menopause while at work. It found that, across the five countries, nearly two-thirds of women (62%) who experienced menopause symptoms said that this impacted them at work, rising to four in five of those experiencing early menopause. A third of those who had symptoms said they hid this at work and 50% felt there is stigma around talking about the menopause.
Vodafone’s survey is linked to the roll-out of its global menopause training and awareness programme which includes a toolkit focused on raising understanding of the menopause and providing guidance on how to support employees, colleagues and family members.
Vodafone says it aims for women to hold 40% of management and leadership roles by 2030. Already women currently hold over 31% of Vodafone’s management and leadership roles. The global policy on menopause joins a global maternity policy, its ReConnect returners programme, a global policy on domestic violence and a global parental leave policy.