Health & Ageing at Work (HAWK): A Study of Menopause in Switzerland

In Switzerland, 82% of women are still in employment at the age of 57¹. All of these women have experienced the transition to menopause.

Demographic ageing has led to a rapid increase in the proportion of middle-aged workers in the labour market. This trend is fuelled by the rise in the employment rate among women over 45 and the increase in the retirement age for men and women.

Although extending working life has been on the Swiss and international political agenda for several decades, it has proven challenging to implement workplace measures that promote healthy ageing, particularly for women.

Menopause, a "taboo subject", remains understudied in the context of work.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

(1) Map the experiences of women over 45 during the menopausal transition.

• How does the prevalence of symptoms experienced by women vary according to job and profession?
• What consequences do these symptoms have for occupational health and well-being during the final stages of their careers?
• What are the implications for women in terms of remaining in the labour market, career prospects, and retirement aspirations?

(2) Analysing the solutions currently offered to women.

• What form does organisational support currently take (e.g. infrastructure, time)?
• To what extent do women share their experiences of the menopausal transition with their colleagues, line managers and the HR department?
• Do they consider menopause to be a source of tension or discrimination?
• Are they satisfied with the organisational support they receive?

METHODS
 

• Participant observations and interviews at "menopause clinics"
• Online questionnaire with women over 45 years of all professions, working in Swiss healthcare institutions
• Biographical interviews with questionnaire respondents
• Interviews with human resources professionals and staff representatives

¹ Federal Statistical Office, 2023