Unions have called for 10 days of paid reproductive leave to support women during menopause.

Australian women experiencing menopause are prematurely leaving the workforce due to insufficient support, according to union testimonies at a recent Senate inquiry. 

The inquiry, focusing on menopause and perimenopause issues, heard from various unions advocating for a national policy of 10 days of paid reproductive health leave. 

This measure aims to help women manage menopause and perimenopause symptoms without sacrificing their careers.

Kate Marshall of the Health Services Union (HSU) highlighted the need for additional leave to “destigmatise” menopause and retain women in the workforce. 

She argued that this policy would provide essential support for women facing reproductive health challenges. 

The HSU also proposed the development of an educational tool for employers and HR professionals to better understand and manage menopause-related issues.

Claire King from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) underscored the significant impact of menopause and reproductive health issues on the workforce, describing it as a poorly understood and often taboo topic. 

King cited estimates from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, indicating that menopause-related early retirements result in a collective loss of $15.2 billion in income and superannuation each year. 

Over an average of 7.4 years of missed earnings, this could amount to an economic loss of $112.2 billion, triggered by a natural biological process.

In response to these submissions, Greens Senator Larissa Waters urged the federal government to enhance access to menopause and perimenopause medications, which are often in short supply. 

Earlier in 2024, the Queensland government introduced a policy granting 10 days of paid reproductive leave to public service workers for menopause, endometriosis, IVF treatments, and other reproductive health issues.

Supply issues of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications have exacerbated the challenges faced by women dealing with menopause. 

In 2023, pharmaceutical companies Sandoz and Juno reported shortages of estradiol and combination estradiol-norethisterone patches to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The discontinuation of the Climara brand of HRT patches further strained the availability of alternative treatments.

However, not all experts agree on the necessity of menopause leave. Susan Davis, director of the Women's Health Research Program at Monash University, argues that the existing data is insufficient to link menopause directly to early workforce exit. 

“We have done a comprehensive review of the published literature on work and menopause. And I can very clearly state that the data is unreliable, inadequate and completely insufficient to inform any policy in this space,” Davis said in a recent interview.

Davis warned that menopause leave might inadvertently harm women's career progression and impose significant costs on businesses. 

“To demand menopause leave on behalf of women not only could ultimately backfire and do a disservice to women, but it could also be an unnecessary, very costly demand on small and large businesses,” she noted.

The Senate inquiry is set to continue in South Australia today, with a final report due on September 17.