Women
Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. adults believe women should not be expected to "push through" perimenopause or menopause symptoms without acknowledgment in the workplace, a new survey from Wondr Health found. Both employed men (67%) and women (70%) agree about the need for workplace menopause support.
"For years, employer-sponsored health benefits have focused heavily on certain stages of women's health, such as fertility and maternity," said Scott Paddock, CEO of the weight management benefits provider. "This data shows employees are ready for a more complete approach, one that reflects the full spectrum of health needs across their careers."
Typically occurring during peak career years, menopause is associated with changes in sleep, weight and cardiometabolic health that can affect daily functioning and long-term health outcomes. Despite this, these challenges largely still are managed outside the workplace.
Although women experiencing menopause represent about 20% of the U.S. workforce, as many as 1 in 10 leave their job because of managed symptoms. Despite employers having expanded support for mental health, chronic disease and weight management, menopause only recently entered the conversation, and support has not kept pace with growing awareness. The result is a clear gap between employee needs and current benefit design.
A 2026 WebMD study found similar results.
"Too often, menopause is a silent factor shaping women's careers," said Christine Muldoon, senior vice president of strategy at WebMD Health Services. "Our research shows that 34% of women in leadership roles have considered leaving their jobs, and nearly 1 in 4 have turned down promotions because of the symptoms they're managing.
"These women are colleagues we admire and rising stars we've invested in. Supporting employees through every stage of life isn't just about well-being -- it's about ensuring they have every opportunity to grow and thrive."
Although 56% of women say their employer offers some type of menopause-related resources, awareness of more substantial support is much lower. Just 24% know about access to clinicians trained in menopause care, and fewer than 20% report coverage for hormone replacement therapy, calling attention to the lack of visibility into the benefits women need.
"Menopause is not a niche issue," said Lisa Talamini, senior vice president of clinical solutions at Wondr Health. "It is a significant physiological transition that can influence multiple aspects of health. When these experiences are treated in isolation, we miss the opportunity to address the underlying drivers of health more effectively. Similar to the treatment of chronic conditions, the goal is to support the whole person and empower women with the care, tools and confidence to navigate this transition and thrive."
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