Vehicle leasing business Zenith has introduced a support package for employees experiencing the menopause, including help with medical costs.
The package, which came into effect at the start of August 2022, gives its approximate 1,200 members of staff, 38% of whom are female, the opportunity to expense prescription fees for hormone replacement therapy.
Zenith has also appointed menopause champions, who will host dedicated drop-in sessions, allowing staff to share stories and coping strategies. In addition, experts have been scheduled to attend, including the business' in-house GP, to provide advice and answer employees' questions.
The drop-in sessions have been held on the first Tuesday of every month since February, and are publicised through all-employee communications and via the business' intranet. A dedicated Teams channels also provides staff with a forum to ask questions and find relevant information.
This follows Zenith's recent commitment to the Menopause Workplace Pledge, run by Wellbeing of Women. By taking the pledge, the employer committed to recognising the issues surrounding the menopause in the workplace, and making an effort to discuss the matter openly, as well as supporting affected employees. Zenith signed the pledge in June 2022, communicating its commitment to employees with posters around the office.
This is in addition to the business' existing healthcare and wellbeing benefits, which include mental health first aiders, massage sessions, an employee assistance programme (EAP), and private medical insurance.
Vicky Thompson, head of compliance and menopause champion at Zenith, said: “We have a growing number of people who menstruate who have joined Zenith, and as a company, we understand the impact perimenopause and menopause has on our colleagues. For too long it has been an issue that has gone under the radar and we wanted to take steps to change that.
"That’s why we’ve introduced this initiative: not only to support colleagues going through both perimenopause and menopause, but to encourage an open conversation about the issue and to reduce the stigma around it. We look forward to taking the next step in becoming a more supportive organisation that provides the best environment for our people.”
