Cash plan provider Health Shield Friendly Society has signed up to the Menopause Working Pledge to better support and empower women at work.
Under the pledge, signatories commit to building a supportive and inclusive workplace for all employees, especially those affected by the menopause and their partners. The idea is to raise awareness and ensure that people feel empowered to ask for support if they need it.
A report from the British Menopause Society said that up to 80 to 90 percent of women will have some menopause symptoms, with 25 percent describing them as severe and debilitating.
And one in ten women who worked during the menopause have left a job due to their symptoms, according to research from the Fawcett Society published in 2022.
Key life phase
There are various physical and emotional changes, and symptoms, associated with menopause and perimenopause, the period leading up to the start of the menopause. These can last for a decade or more.
Each experience is different and the Menopause Working Pledge aims to support all women through this life phase.
Disability Confident
Health Shield has also achieved a Disability Confident Employer Level 2 accreditation, under the government’s Disability Confident scheme. It is designed to help employers recruit and retain disabled people in work.
The scheme helps organisations employ great people, challenge attitudes and increase understanding of disability. It also enables employers to access the widest possible pool of talent.
The cash plan provider said that disability confident organisations can play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better.
Isabella Walker, head of HR at Health Shield, said: “These are important steps forward and form part of our central pledge to help people, be it our members or our employees, lead healthy, happy lives.
“By signing the Menopause Working Pledge, we aim to raise awareness and educate our team on the menopause, creating greater understanding and reducing stigma across the entire workforce.
“To do this, it is vital that all employees understand what the menopause is and how it may affect individuals. We’ll provide support for those who are experiencing menopausal symptoms and implement policies that accommodate the needs of affected employees to make them feel both understood and valued.
“We look forward to continuing this journey, creating a positive, supportive workplace where anyone can thrive.”
