Menopause at Work: Prepare One Specific Adjustment Request
Menopause & HormonesArticleDescribe the difficult part of your workday and ask how an agreed change will be reviewed.
If asking for help feels harder than getting through the meeting, start with one concrete request.
Keep care alongside work support
Menopause symptoms can affect work. Talk to a GP if you think you have symptoms and want to discuss your options; a workplace conversation does not establish a diagnosis.1
Prepare the request
UK government guidance offers examples for employers to discuss, including flexible hours, breaks, private rest space and changes to temperature or ventilation. These examples do not guarantee what your workplace can provide.2
Describe one situation. “The part of my workday I find difficult is ___.”2
Ask about available arrangements. “Could we discuss ___, and what options are available here?”2
Confirm the agreement. “Please record any agreed change in writing. When will we review how it is working?” The guidance recommends written agreements and regular review.2
Before the conversation, choose an example you can describe without searching through weeks of notes. Write down the task, where it happens and the part you want to discuss. You can take this page with you rather than memorizing an opening speech.
Leave space beneath your proposed request for the answer. If you receive several options, record each separately so you can return to the details later. Keep your own questions beside the notes.
Take a useful page away
Afterward, check that your notes make sense to you. If a phrase is unclear, ask what it means. Keep the date of the conversation with the page so that it is easy to find again.
My Body Changed. Now What? includes a symptom diary and Visit Brief. Use them to organize what you want to discuss with a healthcare professional. Explore the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't ignore professional advice or delay getting care because of something you read here. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- NHS, 2026Symptoms of menopause and perimenopause (opens in a new tab)↩
- Office for Equality and Opportunity, 2026Offer workplace adjustments for employees experiencing menopause (opens in a new tab)abcd
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