This World Menopause Day Shaw Trust is delighted to announce we have been accredited as a Menopause Friendly Employer.
But so what?
Around 60% of Shaw Trust employees are female; and at any one time we think 800 of our colleagues could be experiencing menopause and perimenopause. That’s a lot of women – and for every woman finding it entirely manageable, others will be finding their symptoms affect how they feel and perform. As a large organisation it’s important to us that we offer support and also let everyone – male and female – know it’s okay to not be okay all of the time.
When we come to work we all want to feel we are part of something, that we belong. But when women experience menopause symptoms it can mean they keep part of themselves hidden or even leave a job they love. Ten percent of women leave work during menopause – taking with them their experience and expertise. By listening to our teams we realised we needed, a major employer, to be part of a wider, national conversation about menopause, to help breakdown taboos.
We opted to become a Menopause Friendly Employer before working towards gaining the Menopause Friendly Accreditation. The award set high standards and we had to prove we had embraced menopause in the workplace. We were assessed by an independent panel and demonstrated our effectiveness in six key areas, namely: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement, facilities and evaluation.
We were delighted we could show how we’re creating a culture where colleagues can have open discussions about menopause, either through our vibrant menopause peer support group or with their teams and managers. What was important was being able to create spaces where colleagues could come together.
Speaking about our achievement, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Michelle Jackson said: “At Shaw Trust we are incredibly proud of the work we do to ensure our workspaces are inclusive. Addressing menopause head on, and ensuring women, their partners, families, colleagues and teams have the tools and support they need to get on with life, and continue to enjoy work, is incredibly satisfying. Too often women’s physical and emotional menopause symptoms lead them to devalue their contribution, but by becoming open about menopause we are now able to support women – they can be open about having a hot flush, a forgetful moment, needing a moment without embarrassment. It’s a much kinder environment, and as an organisation we get to benefit from the experience, commitment and talent of these women.”
To find out more about Henpicked visit Menopause in the Workplace | Henpicked – Menopause at work training, eLearning and resources | 5* rated
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