---
title: "Menopause at work: how to support colleagues"
description: "Hot flushes, poor sleep and trouble concentrating often land in the middle of a career. What helps colleagues in menopause and what employers can put in place."
url: https://myperiod.app/en/blog/overgang-op-het-werk
lang: en
date: 2026-10-23
publisher: PERIOD. B.V., Amsterdam
---

[Back to blog](https://myperiod.app/blog) [Menopause](https://myperiod.app/blog/categorie/overgang) · 5 min read

# Menopause at work: how to support colleagues

[Lees dit artikel in het Nederlands](https://myperiod.app/blog/overgang-op-het-werk)

PERIOD. team · October 23, 2026

**Short answer:** menopause usually falls between 45 and 55, often at the peak of a career. Hot flushes, poor sleep and forgetfulness can make work hard, but there is a lot you can do: a cool workplace, flexible hours, an open conversation, occupational health and good information for the colleague herself.

## What do colleagues in menopause notice?

The best known symptom is hot flushes, which about 8 in 10 women get. Night sweats and poor sleep, fatigue, mood changes, trouble concentrating and joint pain are common too. Read [hot flushes: what helps?](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/opvliegers-wat-helpt) and [the difference between perimenopause and menopause](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/perimenopauze-of-menopauze-verschil).

## What employers can put in place

- **A cool workplace:** a window that opens, a fan, a desk near a window.

- **Clothing:** allow breathable fabric or layers in uniforms.

- **Flexible hours:** start later or work from home after a bad night.

- **An open conversation:** managers who know the subject and where to refer.

- **Occupational health:** can advise on adjustments and refer.

- **Policy:** mention menopause in your health policy. ISO 45010 gives guidance, read [what ISO 45010 asks](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/iso-45010-werkgevers).

## What helps the colleague herself

Knowing what is happening and when, and going to the GP well prepared. Someone who logs when hot flushes come and how she sleeps sees patterns and can make the GP appointment concrete. Read [how to prepare for the GP](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/huisarts-overgang-voorbereiden).

## PERIOD. for colleagues in menopause

In PERIOD., colleagues in perimenopause or menopause log hot flushes in one tap, track symptoms and make a report for their GP. With [PERIOD. at work](https://myperiod.app/period-at-work-en) your whole team gets PERIOD. plus, anonymously: the employer sees nothing personal. More about the menopause tools at [PERIOD. meno](https://myperiod.app/meno-en).

*Sources: NHS, Menopause; Thuisarts.nl (NHG), Overgang; ISO 45010:2026. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice.*

## Frequently asked questions

### At what age do women go through menopause?

Usually between 45 and 55. The last period is around 51 on average; symptoms can start years earlier.

### What helps most at work?

A cool workplace, flexible hours and a manager who has the conversation. Occupational health can advise.

### Does the employer see what colleagues log in PERIOD.?

No. Employees use the app with their own account; the employer sees nothing personal.

**Want to support colleagues in menopause? [See PERIOD. at work](https://myperiod.app/period-at-work-en) or book a 15 minute call.**

Want to understand your cycle better?

[Why PERIOD. is the period tracker that never sells your data](https://myperiod.app/free)

## Keep reading

[Perimenopause in your 30s: why the conversation is finally happeningPerimenopause can start in your late 30s, years before 'real' menopause. Here are the early signals, what your cycle is telling you, and why generations of women missed this.Read more](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/perimenopauze-in-je-30s)[Hot flushes: what is happening and what helps?Hot flushes are part of menopause, but you do not have to just sit them out. What a hot flush is, how long they last, what sets them off and what really helps.Read more](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/opvliegers-wat-helpt)[Perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause: what is the difference?Perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause get mixed up. What each one means, at what age it usually happens and how to know where you are.Read more](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/perimenopauze-of-menopauze-verschil)