Only 18% of UK workplaces have a menopause policy, survey finds

Only 18 per cent of UK workplaces have a menopause policy, according to a new survey. while half of 1,000 women said they feel supported during menopause at work.

The study found that 37 per cent of respondents said their employer does not provide any menopause support at all. 

The new study, commissioned by women’s wellness specialist Serenova for International Women’s Day, surveyed perimenopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal women aged 30 or over.

Elle Sheppard, global head of marketing and communications at Serenova, said: “Mid-life women have so many pressures to face, the last thing they need is to feel like they have to suffer in silence at work, or worse, get forced into leaving a career they love due to a lack of support.

“Going through the menopause, including the peri and post stages, can last for years; this isn’t just a ‘flash in the pan’ day when you don’t feel your best, it’s a long period of lacking confidence, feeling exhausted and putting up with physical pain too.

The findings come as the government launched its gender pay gap and menopause action plan guidance on 4 March 2026, which will be compulsory for large businesses by April 2027.

Women working in healthcare and social services reported feeling the most supported, with 57 per cent agreeing they feel “somewhat” or “very” supported.

This was followed by public services, law and security at 53 per cent, education and non-profit at 52 per cent, and business, finance and professional services at 48 per cent.

Women working in retail reported feeling the least supported, at 44 per cent.

Among healthcare and social services workers, 36 per cent said their employer does not provide any support provisions, 22 per cent said their workplace had a menopause policy and 16 per cent said their employer provided counselling support. Just 7 per cent had access to menopause leave.

In comparison, 15 per cent of retail workers said their workplace had a menopause policy, 8 per cent had counselling and 10 per cent had menopause leave.

This was higher than in healthcare and social services, where just 7 per cent had menopause leave.

Regionally, workers in London reported feeling the most supported, with 59 per cent agreeing they feel “somewhat” or “very” supported, nine per cent higher than the national total.

The South East followed at 55 per cent, while Yorkshire and the Humber ranked lowest at 45 per cent.

Sheppard said: “Serenova was launched on International Women’s Day last year, with a goal of helping women take charge of their wellbeing so they can navigate this life phase with clarity and confidence.

“As we celebrate our first anniversary, we wanted to find out how supported women really feel, to shine a light on the reality of navigating midlife as a woman.”