More than a million women in the U.S. experience menopause each year and many more go through the transition around the world. An increasing number of companies have added benefits for these women, and now there’s a new one to add to the list.
Deutsche Bank, the German multinational investment bank and financial services company, is gearing up to roll out “rest and recovery pods” for employees going through menopause at the company’s new London office. Each pod will have reclinable chairs, along with special cooling and lighting controls with the goal of supporting people going through symptoms of perimenopause or menopause like hot flashes and migraines.
A 2023 study of 407 women in menopause published in the journal Occupational Medicine found that there were several symptoms that impacted how employees felt at work. Nearly 55 percent of women said they dealt with fatigue, 47 percent said they had trouble sleeping, 44 percent struggled with concentration, and 40 percent had poor memory. Two-thirds of the women surveyed said it impacted their work performance, and nearly one in five said they needed to take sick leave to deal with symptoms.
That was echoed in a 2022 survey by Biote that found that nearly two out of every five women said they experience symptoms of menopause that interfere with their work performance or productivity each week. Those symptoms also contributed to feelings of burnout, the survey found.
Even worse, nearly one in five women had either quit a job or considered quitting it because of their menopausal symptoms.
Deutsche Bank’s pods will be located in the company’s new wellness suite. That suite will include physiotherapy facilities, general practitioner clinics, a mindfulness space, and a multifaith prayer room. The pods aren’t just for people going through menopause, though: They can also support employees who have neurological conditions like ADHD and autism.
Deutsche Bank isn’t the only company making big moves to support people going through menopause. Microsoft offers menopause support for its workers, which includes hormone therapy and physical therapy for pelvic floor issues through Maven Clinic, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Lululemon also offers support for employees going through menopause, offering the option to talk to dedicated nurse practitioners for advice on menopause, Fertifa says. WW offers employees up to 26 weeks paid leave for employees who need to take time off due to menopause-related symptoms.
A 2023 Bank of America report found that 64 percent of working American women want menopause-specific benefits. When these benefits are offered, 58 percent of women said that it has a positive impact on their work — and 40 percent said that helps them to “bring their best selves to work.” Women also reported that they’re more likely to feel comfortable talking about menopause at work when they have access to menopause-related benefits.
Deutsche Bank’s new support pods are expected to be available starting in July.