Menopause Support in the Workplace

As workplaces become more aware of the need to support valuable employees through menopause, the conversation is rightly expanding beyond policy into practical, holistic wellbeing solutions. One approach that deserves far more attention in this space is reflexology.

Menopause can bring a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms — from hot flushes and sleep disturbances to anxiety, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms don’t switch off at the office door, and for many employees, they can have a real impact on confidence, performance, and overall wellbeing at work.

Reflexology offers a gentle, non-invasive way to support the body during this transition. By applying targeted pressure to specific points on the feet, reflexology aims to promote relaxation and support the body’s natural balance to encourage rejuvenation. While it isn’t a cure for menopause symptoms, many people report feeling calmer, sleeping better, experiencing an improvement in mood and sense of wellbeing after a session.

So why should reflexology be part of workplace menopause support?

Firstly, it directly addresses stress through allowing a time and space for employees to benefit from a personalised reflexology session that encourages them to relax at work. Stress  of the most common and exacerbating factors of menopause symptoms. Creating opportunities for employees to access reflexology, whether on-site or through wellbeing benefits, signals that the organisation takes stress management seriously.

Secondly, it supports inclusivity in wellbeing. Whether employees are already accessing  medical help or not offering complementary therapies like reflexology provides choice and respects different preferences in managing health.

Thirdly, it can help reduce absenteeism and presenteeism. When employees feel supported, they are more likely to stay engaged, productive, and confident in their roles.

Integrating reflexology into menopause support helps normalise the conversation. It shifts menopause from being a hidden struggle to a recognised life stage that workplaces actively support — practically, not just rhetorically.

Finally, all that is needed for Reflexology at work is a quiet room, a Reflexology chair and stool.

Forward-thinking organisations are already expanding their wellbeing strategies to include menopause-specific support. Adding reflexology into that mix is a simple but powerful way to enhance employee care, demonstrating a truly holistic approach to workplace wellbeing.

Because supporting menopause at work isn’t just about policies — it’s about people.

In the 1990s several small on-site reflexology studies were carried out in large companies in Denmark. The results indicated changes in absenteeism, stress, ailments and also of loyalty and increased satisfaction in their jobs when a reflexologist was available.  Setting aside any reported changes in the physical symptoms of ailments, these studies still demonstrated many possible benefits of well-being treatments for employees and employer. Ref: Eriksen, L., "Municipal Reflexology." Zoneterapeuten (Journal of the Danish Reflexologists Association, FDZ), Number 6, 1992. 

In general, reflexology may help employees to relax, improve their mood, aid better sleep, and promote a general sense of well-being. Providing the opportunity for them to receive the treatments may also enhance a sense of loyalty and satisfaction with the company, which in turn will benefit the employers.