Co-op enhances menopause support
Co-op is enhancing its menopause policy following the results of a new study it conducted with women in workplaces in the UK.
Whilst some 47% of women employees said dedicated support for the menopause in the workplace should be made available for colleagues by their employer, the study found that 95% of managers said they had never received official training on how to support perimenopausal colleagues and those going through the menopause. In addition, some 52% of managers said they did not feel confident in supporting a colleague.
Co-op launched its menopause policy back in 2019 but now feels more should be done to ensure women are fully supported. With this in mind, it is now launching a menopause support guide for all 4,500 managers across Co-op food stores, funeral homes, legal services and insurance businesses, and will also be making it publicly available free of charge to other employers.
The guide has been created in partnership with the Usdaw and Unite unions in collaboration with colleague networks.
Helen Webb, chief people and services officer at Co-op, said: “It’s time to stop viewing the physical and mental impacts felt by those experiencing the perimenopause and menopause as just a women’s issue and rather as a workplace issue that we all have a role in supporting.
“We need to work together across business, government and society to end the stigma, so that no one else faces this alone. That’s why we’re proud to release our dedicated menopause support guide for managers as well as becoming a Founding Partner with GenM and signing the Women in the Workplace pledge to go even further in making positive changes in the workplace.”
