DHU Healthcare has been awarded Menopause Friendly Accreditation, recognising the work done to embrace menopause in the workplace.
Considered a mark of excellence, the accreditation proves that DHU is effective in ensuring its employees who are experiencing menopause are protected and supported in their role through culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and their working environment.
This achievement is the result of months of work looking at the impact of menopause in the organisation, how it can be addressed through workforce and organisational development policies, training for managers and colleagues and invited the thoughts and views of employees experiencing menopause.
Normalise and de-stigmatise
Nia Alson-Holmes (pictured above, second from right) is DHU’s Wellbeing Lead and said: “More than 70 percent of our employees are female, all of whom have, will or currently are experiencing the menopause. Our aim from the start has been to normalise and de-stigmatise those conversations, talk about it in the same way we would any other health condition and treat it with respect and compassion.
“We have held workshops, roadshows, training sessions and drop in discussions, also setting up a Network to help bring those conversations into the open. They are open to men as well as women to better educate managers, co-workers and ensure those conversations aren’t limited to age, gender, profession or any other characteristic.”
Respect, dignity and support
April Francis (pictured above, middle) is DHU’s Head of Organisational Development, she added: “We hold inclusivity and equality very highly at DHU and it is important that everyone who works, and aspires to work here know that they will be treated with respect, dignity and have the support they need to carry out their roles with us.
“Conversations about menopause have become prominent on a national scale but we have put this work in for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. All of our people know the support is there if and when they need it and we will now work towards putting similar plans in place to become a menstruation friendly organisation.”
In order to achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, DHU Healthcare was assessed by an Independent Panel and had to demonstrate evidence of its effectiveness in five key areas, namely: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.
A ‘best in class’ marker, the Menopause Friendly Accreditation differentiates employers who have demonstrated the positive impact of their actions in supporting people experiencing menopause.
Pictured above, left to right: Sharon Davies (Head of DHU Academy of Learning and Development), Michelle Thompson (DHU Senior Clinical and Development Training Co-Ordinator and Menopause Network Co-Chair), April Francis (DHU Head of Organisational Development and Menopause Network Chair), Nia Alston-Holmes (DHU Wellbeing Lead) and Jay Rai (DHU Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead).
