Half Your Workforce Is Silently Struggling With Perimenopause
And you have no idea it's happening
Have you noticed your millennial employees taking more sick days lately?
Are your best female leaders suddenly less engaged than they used to be?
What if I told you that 50% of millennial women are dealing with perimenopause symptoms right now, and most of them are too uncomfortable to tell you why they're struggling?
That's not a future problem. That's today.
This week, Wendy Sherry, CEO for Global Health Benefits at Cigna Healthcare, joined to talk about what's hiding in plain sight across your organization. And what started as a conversation about women's health turned into something bigger: a wake-up call about the talent crisis you're not preparing for.
What made this conversation stick? The stats were stunning, the business case was undeniable, and there's a reality about 2030 that we can't stop thinking about.
02:18 - From CPA to Healthcare CEO
Wendy Sherry's been at Cigna for 30 years as CEO for Global Health Benefits. That's three decades spanning finance, product development, strategy, operations, and P&L management.
But here's what matters more than the titles: her philosophy on leadership.
She believes if all the good ideas come from one person, you're in trouble. You need a team that's smarter than you in certain areas. That's how you build something that lasts.
She's big on inclusive leadership. Hiring people with diverse perspectives. Making sure everyone has a shot at achieving their career aspirations, with an extra focus on women.
That philosophy shaped how she thinks about this perimenopause conversation. Because when half your workforce is impacted by something, ignoring it isn't leadership.
09:47 - The Symptoms Nobody Warned You About
Perimenopause isn't menopause. It's what comes before.
Your hormones start fluctuating. Symptoms show up. Sometimes in your 40s. Sometimes in your 30s.
Fatigue. Brain fog. Anxiety. Sleep deprivation.
"This is something that every woman will go through," Wendy said. Not some women. Every woman.
And here's the kicker: it impacts more employees than diabetes or musculoskeletal conditions. But nobody's connecting the dots between those symptoms and workplace performance.
14:30 - The Silent Epidemic at Work
79% of women have taken time off because of perimenopause symptoms.
But most won't tell you that's why.
They're calling in sick. Struggling to focus. But they're hiding what's really going on.
Five years ago, Wendy wouldn't have talked about this publicly either.
"If you would have said to me five years ago that I would be talking in a podcast in a public forum around this topic, I would have been shocked."
That silence creates anxiety. It creates isolation. And it means your employees aren't bringing their best selves to work because they're concealing a massive part of their health journey.
18:25 - Why This Isn't Optional Anymore
Rhode Island enacted workplace accommodations for menopause. Illinois and Louisiana mandate insurance coverage. Close to two dozen bills are moving through state legislatures.
But Wendy's point wasn't about compliance.
"Let's not wait to be mandated. Let's just understand it as a business imperative," she said.
By 2030, 74% of the global workforce will be millennials or Gen Z. Three-quarters expect their employer to offer these benefits.
If you don't? The best talent goes somewhere else.
29:37 - What Smart Companies Are Actually Doing
So what does support actually look like?
Virtual provider networks. Access to doctors trained specifically in perimenopause and menopause care. Because many doctors who went to medical school 20 or 30 years ago? This wasn't a major topic.
Partnerships with experts. Companies like Cigna are collaborating with Carrot Fertility to offer these solutions as part of benefit packages.
Education and awareness. Making sure employees understand what's happening with their bodies and where to get help.
Wendy's advice was direct: "Talk to your current provider of benefits. Ask what solutions they're making available. And if they're not offering these solutions, find a new one."
That's the talent war in 2025.
So Where Do You Start?
Half of millennial women are experiencing this right now. By 2030, your talent strategy depends on how you respond.
The organizations that win aren't waiting for mandates. They're treating this like what it is: a business imperative.
The full conversation explores Wendy's 30-year journey to CEO, the specific state laws already in motion, and how companies are building menopause support into their benefits packages today.
Want to connect?
Wendy Sherry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-sherry/
Learn more about Global Health Benefits from Cigna Healthcare
Contact Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci
Thinking about your perimenopause support strategy? Share your story or recommend a guest here.
Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.