🔥 Hot Flashes & Boardrooms: It’s Time We Talk About Menopause in the Workplace

Let’s just say it: If men had hot flashes, mood swings, brain fog, and night sweats daily starting in their 40s, corporate HR policies would look very different.

You’d see full-on “Cool Down Corners” with industrial fans, hormone support snack stations, and mandatory “Brain Fog Breaks” before every meeting. Oh—and “Menopausal Mondays” where everyone wears sweat-wicking fabric and no one schedules Zooms before 10 a.m. Sounds dreamy, right?

But here we are, in real life, where pregnancy has a process, a policy, and a protocol…
And menopause? Crickets. 🦗

💼 Let’s Be Real: Is Your Company Even TALKING About Menopause?

If you're currently stuffing an ice pack into your blazer during a board meeting while trying to remember what the board meeting is even about—hi. You're not alone.

Many women going through perimenopause or menopause in the workplace feel like they have to suffer in silence. The hot flashes, brain fog, sudden anxiety, and irregular sleep patterns don’t come with a “Workplace Accommodation Form,” but maybe they should.

Here’s the thing: women over 40 are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. We’re seasoned, wise, and strong as hell… but also maybe on the verge of crying because our estrogen levels dropped mid-email.

It’s not weakness.
It’s not laziness.
It’s biology, baby.

🙋‍♀️ Do You Feel Supported or Like You Have to Hide It?

Let’s do a vibe check:

• Are you pretending your desk fan is “just for white noise”?

• Are you timing meetings around your “mental sharpness windows”?

• Are you afraid to tell your boss that menopause is why you missed a deadline?

If yes, it’s time to change the narrative—not just for you, but for every woman coming up behind you.

🗣️ How to Get the Conversation Started with Leadership

Talking to management about menopause can feel awkward—because it shouldn’t have to happen in the first place. But until it’s normalized, here’s how you can break the ice without breaking into a hot flash:

1. Start with empathy and facts:
“Hey, I know this isn’t a common workplace topic yet, but I wanted to share something that impacts many employees silently—menopause. It affects cognitive function, sleep, emotional regulation, and more.”

2. Suggest a small change or resource:
“Could we look into flexible break times or even a wellness workshop around hormone health?”

3. Be clear: this is about retention and respect.
“When we support women through every stage of life—not just pregnancy—we retain top talent and build real loyalty.”

💡 If You’re a CEO, Manager, or Business Owner—WAKE UP

Your female employees are not just surviving this season. They're leading teams, closing deals, managing chaos—while their hormones are throwing wild parties in the background.

Here’s how to show you actually care:

• Add menopause to your health and wellness programming.

• Train managers to respond with compassion—not confusion.

• Offer flexibility. Period.

• Create space to talk about it without shame.

If you can host a baby shower in the breakroom, you can start a “Menopause Is Not a Dirty Word” lunch-and-learn.

🎯 Final Word: Menopause Isn’t the End—It’s a New Chapter

And it’s time workplaces caught up with that.

Let’s normalize the conversation, create support systems, and stop pretending that 45+ women don’t exist or don’t need a little grace while still being absolute bosses.

Let’s rewrite the HR handbook—hot flash edition.

🧡 Ready to Feel Seen and Supported?

If you’re navigating menopause (or perimenopause) and feel like your workplace doesn’t get it—I see you. You’re not alone, and you shouldn’t have to go through this without support.

Let’s talk about how to advocate for yourself, how to get your company on board, and how to make this phase of life a power move, not a pause.

📅 Book a discovery call with me today.
Because you deserve to feel balanced, heard, and empowered—yes, even during a meeting with no AC.