Media releases

Finance sector workers will tomorrow mark World Menopause Day by continuing to break taboos and by discussing the workplace implications of conditions that so many women are suffering in silence. Workers like Sacha, an employee of a major bank living in Tasmania, are sharing their stories in the interests of ensuring women don’t need to struggle the way she did.

World Menopause Day is held every year on 18 October during World Menopause Month, to raise awareness of the symptoms of menopause and highlight the support options available for those experiencing it.

Finance Sector Union (FSU) National President Wendy Streets said the finance sector lagged behind in the national gender pay gap, and recognising the profound impact of menstruation and the transition to menopause on its workers would help the sector to close the gap.

“It’s clear from our members that too many women are struggling to balance the often-hidden symptoms of menopause and menstruation with their paid work,” Ms Streets said.

“Menopause and menstruation are workplace issues and it’s time they are addressed alongside other forms of leave that the finance sector has led the way on – like paid maternity leave and domestic violence leave.

“More than one third of workers in the finance sector who experience menopause symptoms told the union that it made them more likely to retire early, and over half saying menopause made them less likely to apply for a promotion.”

The FSU acknowledges the workplaces that have adopted menopause and/or menstrual policies and frameworks, and where access to flexible work and/or paid leave has improved. These include CBUS, HESTA, Police Bank, Aware Super and NAB.

Sacha’s story is powerful, and yet not an isolated example.

“I was at work when my IUD was pushed out because I was bleeding so heavily, and I almost passed out. I then needed more time off to have my ovaries removed due to cysts. That’s now put me into early menopause which results in brain fog where I can’t concentrate or cope while working in a highly legislated environment. I’ve had to take significant amounts of unpaid leave due to my symptoms and my pain, and this has had an impact on my pay and my ability to accrue long service or annual leave.”

The union surveyed 680 Australian finance workers in 2023-24, finding that almost 60 per cent of workers going through the menopausal transition were challenged by managing work demands and their symptoms. And 60 per cent said they did not feel like they could talk to their line manager about it.

“Because menopause and menstruation are still largely taboo subjects, the lack of understanding and stigma means that workers suffer menopausal symptoms largely in silence,” Ms Streets said.

“The very great shame is that menopause often hits workers at a point in their careers when they would be in line for senior roles but are held back by their menopausal symptoms.

“We need to treat the issue of menopause at work the way that mental health has been addressed. Stigmas and taboos need to be broken to support workers experiencing the menopausal transition.”

On 19 September 2024, Finance Industry Equal Pay Day, the union launched a campaign to engage with members to help them normalise talking about menopause and menstruation and break the taboos and stigma that hold back workers who suffer these symptoms in the workplace. It released a framework to promote flexible working arrangements, changes to the physical work environment and cultural changes to better support workers to manage menstruation and menopause at work.

Media contact: David Imber on 0413 274 204 or [email protected]