Women in the UK (30%) experiencing challenges related to the menopause are more likely than their global counterparts (20%) to work through the pain, according to Deloitte Global research.
The third annual Women @ work: a global outlook report surveyed 5,000 women in 10 countries, including 500 women working in the UK, to better understand their experiences in the workplace.
Only 28% of respondents said they were comfortable talking about mental health at work, compared with 45% last year.
More than a third (35%) of women felt they were expected to go into the workplace despite flexible workplace messaging, an increase of 21 percentage points since 2022, and 29% said that flexible working was still not an option for them. Meanwhile, 43% of those women with hybrid work arrangements were experiencing exclusion from meetings, decisions, or informal interactions.
More women worldwide (18%) left their jobs in the past 12 months than in 2021 and 2020 combined. The same proportion (18%) had done so in the UK.
Those with flexible working arrangements (39%) plan to stay longer with their employer than those without (27%), and flexibility was a top factor for women who have recently left an employer (17%) and for those considering leaving their current employer (25%).
Jackie Henry, managing partner for people and purpose at Deloitte UK, said: “Our research shows that there is a stigma around discussing mental health and women’s issues in UK workplaces, but it’s concerning to see that this has worsened in the last year.
“The research highlights how important it is for employers to actively listen to the needs of women and, crucially, take action to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels their health concerns are addressed. It’s absolutely critical that organisations understand this and make sure that hybrid working is inclusive and does not disadvantage anyone in the workplace.”