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Washington leads the nation with Executive Order to support workers navigating menopause

June 1, 2026

  • Announcements
  • Health
Menopause EO Signing

Today, Governor Bob Ferguson signed a historic executive order making Washington one of the first states in the nation to take comprehensive action to support people navigating perimenopause and menopause in the workplace. 

Executive Order 26-01 affirms that perimenopause and menopause may warrant protection under state law. It also and directs the Women’s Commission to work with state agencies to implement workplace accommodations for menopause.  

Beyond the state government workforce, this directive aims to:  

  1. Normalize the conversation around perimenopause and menopause through awareness and education 
  2. Establish workplace accommodation guidance and resources for use by other public and private employers
  3. Increase the number of providers with expertise in perimenopause/menopause symptom recognition, care and treatment 

The Executive Order was signed at Armoire, a by women, for women clothing rental company in South Seattle that also serves as a community space and directly donates and contributes to nonprofits across the city.

Speakers included:

Menopause is a workplace accommodation issue 

Menopause affects nearly every woman and some gender-diverse individuals, often during the peak of their careers. Symptoms such as insomnia, hot flashes, brain fog and mood changes can disrupt work, limit advancement and push talented employees out of the workforce.  

In Washington alone, 38% of working women are between the ages of 40 and 59, the years most commonly associated with menopause. Without a standard for menopause workplace accommodations, that’s 600,000 women who may be navigating this transition without the proper supports.  

Without support, the consequences are severe. A study from the Society for Women’s Health found that two in five women considered leaving their job or did leave a job due to lack of accommodations for menopausal symptoms. One in four considered not pursuing or did not pursue a leadership opportunity as a result. The failure to accommodate workers in menopause results in a loss of $5.4 billion every year.  

Washington stands against the stigmatization of menopause, and the sidelining of those navigating it 

Menopause is natural and inevitable. Workplace inequity is preventable. Executive Order 26-01 offers a path forward.  

Starting at the time of the signing, the Women’s Commission begins its work to collaborate with state agencies and review and strengthen existing policies and practices related to menopause and perimenopause accommodations. 

Recommendations from the Women’s Commission will include practical, low-cost solutions: telework options, flexible dress codes, access to cold water and temperature control, and time-management tools. These are not burdensome changes, they are smart workforce policy. 

As a first step under EO 26-01, the Commission released one-page resources to help employers and employees incorporate menopause equity in the workplace: 

Watch the press conference

Learn more: