Rhode Island has become the first state to mandate that employers provide menopause accommodations — a move that should spark the attention not just of HR professionals in the state but also HR pros across the nation.
The state’s Fair Employment Practices Act, which covers conditions related to pregnancy, labor, and postpartum issues, was recently amended to include menopause in the list of conditions it covers, effective June 24.
Employers in the Ocean State will want to make sure to update their policies, train managers on how to handle menopause-related accommodation requests, and educate employees about the updates. But employers nationwide also should pay attention to the new guidance, as the move represents the growing attention on menopause support in the workplace, experts said.
“The momentum is there, and this kind of state-level action often pushes employers to move faster than they might otherwise,” said Shelly MacConnell, chief strategy officer at Greenwich, Conn.-based fertility benefit firm WIN.
While many employers are already adding menopause benefits as part of broader health and well-being strategies, she said, “Legislative pressure like this can help accelerate those efforts.”
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