London-headquartered oil and gas firm BP, which employs around 14,500 members of staff in the UK, signed the UK Menopause Workplace Pledge in December 2021 as part of a commitment to recognise that the menopause can be an issue in the workplace and employees need support.
BP’s executive vice president of people and culture Kerry Dryburgh, who signed the pledge, stated at the time that it will help the business to talk openly, positively and respectfully about the menopause, and to actively support and inform affected employees.
Since then, the organisation has launched a new menopause product, provided by Bupa, to UK employees to ensure that they are able to get timely access to personalised and clinical support, including a free menopause support line that allows the employee, whether it is the person going through the menopause or the partner of someone, to call a nurse in confidence for personalised clinical advice on managing symptoms and moving forward.
It also began to offer access to 12 months of personalised support as part of its benefits proposition, starting with an appointment with a GP who specialises in the menopause, explains Marleece Estella, chief medical officer at BP.
“No matter what stage of the menopause someone is at, they are able to receive tailored advice to help ensure that their journey is fully supported,” she says. “We also created and shared a menopause guide for both employees and managers, intending to remove associated stigma in the workplace and encourage an inclusive culture. It was designed to help everyone understand the stages of the menopause, how it might affect someone, and normalise the conversation and challenges, while signposting appropriate support and guidance.”
Not one to let awareness days pass by, BP created a dedicated guide in support of International Women’s Day on 8 March including information regarding the impact that lowering levels of oestrogen, which happens during the menopause, has on the mind and body. It was shared globally and translated into 12 languages. It also created a short video of employees openly sharing their menopause stories to encourage others to feel supported and reach out for help, and has a menopause Yammer group with 252 members that is dedicated to open and supportive conversations in the workplace.
In addition, the organisation designed and hosted a webinar on the importance of menopause nutrition, providing employees with the tools and confidence to make a positive change to support their body and stay healthy through the transition, adds Estella.
“This was designed specifically in response to requests from employees in our menopause Yammer community,” she says. “As well as this, one of our internal business resource groups hosted a fireside chat on the menopause in May, with employees sharing their stories to help reduce stigma and encourage others to reach out for help rather than struggle with symptoms.”
BP is currently in the process of setting up a working group to help work towards menopause accreditation for 2023. The working group will mean that it can listen to and meet the needs of staff when shaping its approach.