Constructing a survey to assess the menopause and its implications for the higher education workforce

Menopause, a natural biological transition, can significantly impact individuals' quality of life and workplace performance. Despite growing recognition of its effects, research on menopause within the Higher Education (HE) sector remains limited. With women over 50 forming the fastest-growing segment of the workforce and nearly half of HE academic staff identifying as female, there is an urgent need to address how menopause intersects with professional roles and impacts workplace inclusivity. This proposal outlines a co-production approach to raise awareness and explore barriers to support for HE staff navigating menopause. Two workshops engaged staff in identifying the key themes, which include stigma, reasonable adjustments, and the intersectionality of menopause with neurodiversity and caregiving roles. These insights informed the design of a survey aimed at capturing the perspectives of individuals experiencing menopause, as well as those of their colleagues and managers. The proposed research seeks to address gaps in policy and practice by exploring HE staff experiences and developing evidence-based strategies to improve workplace support, raise awareness, and foster a more inclusive workplace culture. By advancing understanding of menopause in HE, this work aims to contribute to the creation of more equitable and supportive working environments.