Managing in Midlife - for Employers

Women in midlevel management positions are predicted to leave the workforce at the highest levels of any other group in 2022. One of the main reasons women cite for leaving is the lack of focus on workplace well-being.

Ageism continues to be one of the most pervasive workplace issues; gendered ageism (the overlay of age on gender bias) potentially impacts over half the workforce. Only about 8% of companies address ageism in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Not surprisingly, most DEI efforts have been championed and continue to be led by women.

Women at Work2022. While the workforce is shrinking, the population is aging. Over half of women plan to leave their employer in the next two years and only 10% plan to stay with their current employer for more than five years. (source: Women @ Work 2022: A Global Outlook)

For every resignation, companies pay the price in off-boarding and on-boarding costs, institutional knowledge loss and more. It can cost 30-200% of an annual salary to replace your employees - costs increase for those with specialized expertise.

Recognizing the impact of aging, well-being, and the needs of women in midlife allows companies to better address the UN Sustainability Goals number 3 (good health and well-being) and 5 (gender equality).

When midlife challenges such as menopausal symptoms are experienced in the workplace, women report less overall job satisfaction and less workplace engagement. Many mid-life women do not report health or lifestyle issues to managers because of embarrassment, perceived lack of acceptance, or fear of job loss. The impact of workplace taboos related to health and aging, compounded with competing life demands, can also affect midlife productivity, confidence, and morale.

In a large U.S. study of over a quarter of a million women in the workplace, researchers found that untreated menopausal vasomotor symptoms (e.g., night sweats, hot flushes) alone cost employers $370,000,000 in direct health and indirect workplace costs.

Women are also squarely in the midst of a burnout epidemic - 53% of women report that their stress levels are higher than they were a year ago, and 46% feel burned out. (source: Women @ Work 2022: A Global Outlook)

When life demands are combined with health challenges, many women feel that they have no choice but to leave the workforce earlier than intended; women retire on average three years earlier than men.