Ros Altmann says women are being forced out of the workplace because employers are ignoring the impact of the menopause . Women are being forced out of the workplace because employers are ignoring the impact of the menopause , a campaigner for older workers has warned . Ros Altmann , who advises the Government on how to keep over-50s in the workforce , said that while other life-changing events are recognised by businesses , the menopause is still taboo . As a result , older women are being failed by employers . Dr Altmann , who is an expert on pensions and finance , said some women struggling with symptoms of the menopause are perceived to be under-performing and are forced out of their jobs . Others , tired of battling on , will choose to leave or go part-time . Dr Altmann warned that menopause is just ‘ not on the work radar ’ . ‘ Pregnancy is , childbirth is , bereavement is , many other life phases are , but [ menopausal women ] get no support in the workplace , ’ she said . The average age that women go through the menopause in the UK is 51 . However , 1 per cent of women face it before they hit 40 . The symptoms , which range from hot flushes to sleepless nights , headaches and depression , can last for as long as 14 years . Even for an average woman , it takes seven and a half years for the body to adjust . Hormone replacement therapy can help but it is usually only prescribed for five years . Dr Altmann , who has written a report on how to keep older people working , said she would have to be brave to call for training on how to manage women going through the menopause because ‘ nobody ever wants to talk about that ’ . She told the Sunday Times : ‘ A woman may come in one day… feeling awful and emotional and a lot of women find it hard to cope . You can ’ t sleep at night because of night sweats or you flush in a meeting . ‘ Can you imagine telling a 40-year-old male manager you ’ ve got a problem with the menopause ? It ’ s not going to happen . ‘ Sometimes , women themselves think , “ My God , I can ’ t cope any more ” and leave . ‘ Some drop to part-time work , even though they don ’ t need to . ‘ We don ’ t know how it affects people because it ’ s not being managed. ’ In December , a leading fertility expert called for women workers to be given paid ‘ menstrual leave ’ . Gedis Grudzinskas , a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology , said female workers who feel under the weather every month should get up to three days off and that this should be separate from sick leave . The Harley Street professor said that his proposal was ‘ about employers being sensible and aware ’ about women in the workplace and trying to keep them there . He added that Britain is behind the times as menstrual leave is already legal in Japan , Taiwan and Indonesia , while Canada is discussing the idea .
Ros Altmann advised the Government on how to keep women in work . many other life - changing events are recognised , but menopause is taboo . similarly some workers struggling with symptoms are perceived to be under - privileged and are forced out of their jobs .