Tennessee Lawmakers Consider Menopause Workplace Protection Legislation
Tennessee joins growing movement to protect women experiencing menopause symptoms at work as cultural attitudes shift toward addressing once-taboo health issues.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Tennessee legislators are exploring new workplace protections for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause symptoms, following a nationwide trend driven by changing attitudes toward women’s health issues that were once considered taboo.
The push for legislative action comes as advocates report significant cultural changes in how menopause is discussed and treated in medical settings. Jacqueline Perez, who founded a website dedicated to normalizing aging for women, experienced firsthand the challenges that many women face during this transition.
Personal Stories Drive Policy Changes
When Perez started experiencing menopause symptoms in her early 50s, the brain fog was so severe she thought she had early-onset dementia. She gained more than 30 pounds and struggled with depression for months before finding a healthcare provider who tested her hormone levels and recommended hormone replacement therapy for low estrogen.
“We still have a long way to go, in my opinion, but I think at least we’re on the path,” Perez said, reflecting on changes in menopause treatment culture over the past decade.
Understanding Menopause Symptoms
Menopause refers to the time when a woman stops having menstrual periods, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55, according to the National Institute on Aging. The associated hormonal changes can cause hot flashes, night sweats, joint problems, bone density loss, insomnia, mood changes and other symptoms that can significantly impact daily life and work performance.
These symptoms have prompted lawmakers across the country to consider workplace accommodations similar to those already provided for pregnancy and disability-related conditions.
National Movement Gains Momentum
Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Lori Urso sponsored the first bill of its kind adding workplace accommodations for menopause- and perimenopause-related conditions to state law in 2025, setting a precedent for other states to follow.
Claire Gill, founder and president of the National Menopause Foundation, established her nonprofit in 2019 and has witnessed significant changes in public discourse around the issue over the past seven years. Advocates say the generational shift has led to more legislation in statehouses nationwide, providing increased access to treatments and preventive care while creating more educational opportunities for healthcare providers.
Lawmakers and advocates report that menopause was previously considered a taboo topic, but changing attitudes have opened doors for policy discussions about supporting women in the workplace during this natural life transition.
The proposed protections would likely address workplace accommodations for symptoms that can interfere with job performance, such as temperature regulation issues, cognitive changes, and sleep disruption that characterize menopause and perimenopause.
