Need for recovery after work and associated risk factors in working menopausal women

•This study explores associations between the need for recovery and menopause symptoms.•More than half of symptomatic menopausal women experience problems at work.•These women have a markedly higher need for recovery and increased risk of burnout.•A good balance between work and private life and a fair work distribution are key preventive factors.•More awareness of menopause in the workplace is needed, alongside adequate treatment. To explore relationships between ‘need for recovery’ (NFR), a strong predictor of burnout, and menopause symptoms and to identify work-related factors that are associated with a high NFR in Belgian menopausal women. 760 menopausal women took part in a cross-sectional questionnaire study. NFR, presence of menopause symptoms, job type, age category, work activity, physical workload, psychosocial and physical work environment, balance of work and private life and the opportunity to discuss menopause at work were assessed. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios for the presence of a high NFR. Of menopausal women currently experiencing menopause symptoms, 53.3 % reported problems while performing their work. The overall prevalence of a high NFR in menopausal women was 41.2 %. Women who experienced problems at work had the highest prevalence of a high NFR (61.1 %), and constituted a separate risk group for having a high NFR (OR 3.31 vs. never symptoms; 95%CI 1.72–6.38). The following factors were significantly associated with a high NFR: poor balance of work and private life (OR 7.89; 95%CI 4.32–14.39), physical workload (OR 1.17; 95%CI 1.08–1.28), discomfort from cognitive demands (OR 1.17; 95%CI 1.09–1.26), organizational justice (OR 0.86; 95%CI; 0.78–0.94), and social support from colleagues (OR 0.87; 95%CI 0.79–0.96). Maintaining a good balance of work and private life, reducing physical workload, addressing discomfort from cognitive work demands and assuring a fair work distribution are measures that require a culture where open and easy discussion about menopause is possible.