Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed an executive order aimed at supporting working women who are going through perimenopause and menopause. The measure responds to growing evidence that menopausal symptoms are pushing women out of jobs and away from career advancement.
Research from the Society for Women's Health Research found that two in five women considered leaving or did leave a job because of menopause symptoms. The same research found that one in four women considered not pursuing, or did not pursue, a leadership opportunity due to those symptoms.
The scale of the issue is also measured in economic terms. An estimated 1.8 billion dollars of employee productivity is lost nationwide every year because of workers dealing with menopausal symptoms, according to the figures cited around the order.
The executive order directs the Washington State Women's Commission to work with state agencies to implement accommodations for employees experiencing menopause or perimenopause symptoms. The guidelines and accommodations apply to state employees, while the commission will also make recommendations for private companies.
Brittany Gregory, executive director of the Washington State Women's Commission, said the symptoms reported by women ranged widely, from insomnia and severe brain fog to hot flashes, heart palpitations and panic attacks. All of it, she said, was affecting the way women showed up in their workplaces.
Gregory said women who had excelled at the same job for years suddenly found themselves placed on performance improvement plans or feeling they had to leave the workplace because they could no longer perform as they once had. Many, she added, had nowhere to turn and were unsure what resources existed to support them.
Among the accommodations the commission suggests for employers are frequent breaks throughout the day, access to cold water or cooling devices, handheld fans, restroom breaks, task management tools to assist with brain fog, a flexible dress code and flexible scheduling. Gregory said it is also important to create an open and supportive environment where women can share their experiences and ask for help as the symptoms arise.