According to a new report from Mayo Clinic, the U.S. economy is losing $26.6 billion every year due to reduced productivity and health expenses resulting from menopause symptoms in female employees. The study analyzed responses from over 4,400 women aged 45 to 60, with nearly 11% reporting that they missed work in the last year due to symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep disturbances.
While the cost for those missed work days is $1.8 billion annually, it does not account for reduced work hours, employment loss, or early retirement. Additionally, 13% of women surveyed experienced at least one of the above outcomes due to symptoms. Women of color, especially Black women, were found to be more adversely affected than White women.
The report states that the findings “highlight a critical need to improve the medical treatment provided to women with menopause symptoms and an opportunity to make the workplace environment more supportive for women going through this universal life stage.”
The report also emphasized that women in midlife are at a time when they should be experiencing career success and achieving leadership roles, making it necessary to address the issue to prevent women from opting out of employment and the leadership development pipeline. Many women may consider shifting to part-time work, early retirement or quitting their jobs altogether due to their symptoms, according to several surveys.
SOURCE: Ref-BLOOMBERG
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