Insurance broker Partners& is recognising World Menopause Day (Monday 18th October 2021) by announcing its commitment to becoming an Accredited Menopause Friendly Employer.
The Menopause Friendly Employer accreditation demonstrates that an employer has a clear understanding of how the menopause can have an effect at work and that they care about the wellbeing of their colleagues. It means a company is working towards long-term, sustainable change in their workplace and will be fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can be at their best.
If successful, Partners& hopes to be among the first insurance brokers in the UK to achieve accreditation alongside HSBC, first direct, M&S Bank, Atos and Aster Group. Accreditation will allow the firm to use the ‘Menopause Friendly’ badge, a visible sign to partners, colleagues and potential new employees, of their commitment to supporting colleagues during the menopause.
The accreditation process will require Partners& to develop new policies, training and practices; they will also need to deliver training and events for employees, line managers and HR colleagues and provide best practice toolkits to include videos, eLearning and webinars.
According to a CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) report; “‘Women over the age of 50 are the fastest growing segment of the workforce, and most will go through the menopause transition during their working lives.” Eight out 10 women going through the menopause are still working, and one in four of them are suffering some quite severe symptoms.”
“While we’ve made an enormous amount of progress over the past few years, the topic of menopause is still quite taboo. Employers have an important role to play in supporting the issues and stages of the menopause, just like they have with other stages of women’s reproductive lives, like pregnancy and maternity, for decades. An inclusive workplace and colleague wellbeing are at the heart of being menopause friendly.”
Partners& already delivers an active belonging, inclusion and wellbeing programme, BEAT. BEAT stands for Belonging, Energised, “and” culture and Together, and includes webinars, events, and exercise classes which all employees are encouraged to attend. As part of the BEAT programme, in July 2021, employees were invited to attend a presentation, ‘Menopause in the Workplace’, hosted by Henpicked. Employees of all genders who attended the event reported finding it interesting and informative.
To further support World Menopause Day, Partners& has a week of activities planned which include sharing information-based articles, starting with the importance of nutrition during the menopause. They will also be sharing details of the new BUPA Menopause Support Plan, part of the company’s existing BUPA PMI package. The plan includes tools, statistics and a quiz to help understand the menopause better and a helpline. Meditation sessions will be run throughout October and staff will be encouraged to share their stories, to encourage an open and inclusive environment.
“I am delighted that we are now on the path to becoming a Menopause Friendly Employer and would like to thank Henpicked for their support as we make this journey. The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is critical to our success. We want to remove the taboo of talking about the menopause and make sure our colleagues feel included and supported at work. Following the Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace webinar, we are also fully aware that the menopause can affect partners and family members too, so we want to encourage a very open and inclusive conversation for everyone. I believe that by becoming a Menopause Friendly Employer we will continue to attract the best talent, who increasingly look to work within a supportive and modern culture."
About Partners&
Partners& is a Chartered insurance broker providing specialist insurance, employee benefits, risk management and claims advice to businesses and private clients. As a next generation insurance advisory business, Partners& combines the best traditions of broking, such as technical advice and client service, with modern thinking and intelligent use of technology, to enhance the client experience and create a dynamic workplace for its talented team.
For more information, contact Malia Brown at malia.brown@partnersand.com or visit www.partnersand.com
