“There’s no escape”: a qualitative analysis of the workplace experiences of menopausal women working in low-paid roles

Purpose There is substantial evidence that menopause can have major implications for women at work, yet limited research has focused on the experiences of women in low-paid roles. This study draws on the psychology of working theory (PWT) to help explain the work-related experiences of menopausal women working in low-paid roles. Design/methodology/approach This was a qualitative study underpinned by critical realism. Participants were 20 menopausal women in low-paid roles who were interviewed about their experiences and coping strategies at work. The data were analysed with a critical realism-informed thematic analysis. Findings We describe two themes, illustrating (1) the experience of low status as low-paid workers and as menopausal women and (2) the nature of low-paid work, which was found to exacerbate their menopause symptoms and diminish their access to coping strategies. The findings provided support for the PWT to help explain the experiences of this group of workers, finding, as the PWT predicts, that their experiences of marginalisation and their low economic resources contributed to a lack of decent work, in part through reducing their work volition. Originality/value This is the first study, to our knowledge, where the primary focus is on the experiences of women in low-paid roles during menopause in the UK, using the PWT to shed light on their experiences.