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Lansing, MI — As part of its menopause education and advocacy campaign for workers, the Michigan Women’s Commission has issued key recommendations for employers and lawmakers.
The commission is a 15-member group established in 1968 as part of the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. It published the recommendations in its “Menopause Memorandum” report released on March 26.
The report, a product of MWC’s Menopause: It’s a Movement initiative, emphasizes a need for menopause training among physicians, increased public awareness of menopause and midlife women’s health education, along with destigmatizing conversations around menopause.
The recommendations were developed, in part, from data points from the commission’s Menopause in the Workplace Survey. It involved a sample of 652 women, the majority of whom were between the ages of 35 and 60.
The group’s recommendations for employers:
Educate all employees about menopause and perimenopause: Among the women surveyed, 79% said a menopause-supportive workplace is important.
Provide trusted information and resources: Only 8% of the women said they were satisfied with the menopause-related resources available in workplaces around the state.
Update workplace policies with a midlife women’s health lens, create low-cost accommodations and expand benefits: More than half of the respondents said their workplace culture didn’t support taking time off for menopause-related symptoms.
Provide basic menopause awareness training to supervisors and human resources personnel: Three out of 5 of the respondents said they didn’t know where to go for help in managing their symptoms at work.
While pointing out that it’s helped inform seven different menopause-related bills in the state legislature, the commission recommends that lawmakers:
Create and fund public education and awareness campaigns: In Michigan, H.B. 4791 and S.B. 756 would establish a menopause transition awareness program and a menopause navigator program, respectively.
Improve access to women’s midlife and menopause health care: H.B. 4814 would provide coverage for treatment of symptoms and waive prior authorization for prescription drugs or treatments.
Build policies for menopause physician education: Under H.B. 4790, continuing education would be provided for physicians in the state.
Create policies to support midlife women in the workplace: Eleven of the women surveyed said they left a job because of menopause symptoms. The commission highlights a recently enacted law in Rhode Island making the state the first to provide protection for workers experiencing menopause.
“This report builds on the feedback of … women who made their voices heard during a statewide tour across Michigan,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said in a press release. “I encourage employers and lawmakers alike to read the report, listen to these voices and help women thrive during this important stage of life.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication