Imagine asking fans at your desk without feeling dramatic, or shifting time to the day when hot flashes are hit hard. On Rhode Island, you can. As of June 24, the state became the first country to request employers to provide workplace accommodation for menopause. Symptoms such as brain fog, hot flashes, or mood changes affecting employees’ work days have the right to request changes that facilitate functioning.
The new law updates Rhode Island’s Fair Employment Practices Act, provides the law to include menopause-related conditions, and provides the ability for employees to seek reasonable support, whether it means cooler workspaces, coordinated schedules, or overall flexibility.
Why is this important?
Menopause symptoms can affect daily functioning, including at work, but up until now there has been no formal protection to address it. The act will make Rhode Island the first in the country to recognize menopause as a condition that could guarantee reasonable workplace accommodation. Under the new law, employers must post updated notices, alert current employees within 120 days, and notify employees who have revealed menopause symptoms within 10 days.
What does this mean for women in Rhode Island?
For women who work with menopause symptoms in the workplace, they currently have a legal right to seek support. Employers should work with you on reasonable adjustments, unless they can demonstrate that the request causes serious difficulties. Whether it’s a day break, a scheduled shift, or something as simple as a breathable uniform, the law makes it okay to ask and assure employees that they will address their concerns.
Rhode Island is leading the fare, but it may not be the only one for a long time. I hope that once a state begins to realize how menopause affects everything from focus to presence, it encourages others to follow.
