A survey is suggesting charities need to do more to support their female staff experiencing the menopause or symptoms at work.

It found that just 52% of impacted female workers working for charities or in education feel supported in this way.

Those working in health care, social services, public services, law and security sectors all feel more supported at work, according to the survey of 1,000 women.

Support in business, finance and professional service ranked lower than charities in terms of support for female staff experiencing the menopause or symptoms at work.

Across the charity and education sectors less than one in five employers has a menopause policy in place, the survey also found.

Across all sectors, workers in London reported feeling the most supported when experiencing the menopause, with 59% agreeing that they feel ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ supported. This is 9% higher than the overall national total.

Yorkshire and the Humber ranked the lowest, with just 45% of survey respondents feeling supported.

Among all sectors less than half of women feel comfortable talking about the menopause at work.

Elle Sheppard, global head of marketing and communications at women’s health and supplement brand Serenova, which carried out the research, 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.”

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