B
y March 2029, executive committees of large companies in France must be made up of 40% women. To comply with the Rixain law, which sets this quota, companies have begun an unprecedented effort to promote women. Yet, while most of the executives being considered for these roles are approaching or over 50, the fact that many are experiencing menopause is still largely overlooked.
Are senior women executives somehow immune to hot flashes, sleepless nights, and the resulting fatigue? Are they always expected to operate at their maximum capacity? The testimonies we collected tell a very different story. Like the 17 million French women experiencing menopause, the lives of women executives are thrown into upheaval by the hormonal changes they undergo around the age of 50, with substantial effects on their sleep, energy levels, concentration and appearance.
None of the women who took part in our study requested specific workplace adjustments to better cope with the effects of menopause. Indeed, nothing of the sort was ever offered to them. On the contrary, most said their careers were directly affected by their situation. Many felt less recognized because they were menopausal. Those whose positions required a high level of public visibility felt particularly disadvantaged by the physical changes they experienced.
