Petcare, food and nutrition manufacturer Mars has been awarded menopause-friendly accreditation in the UK in recognition of its commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and supporting employees.
Established by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, the accreditation certifies organisations that create inclusive, supportive environments for those experiencing the menopause in the workplace.
To achieve the accreditation, Mars provided evidence of its effectiveness in culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment to an independent panel.
It was recognised due to its menopause and perimenopause support, which includes the introduction of more inclusive uniform to support women experiencing symptoms, line manager training, and menopause champions. It also has a dedicated menopause hub, which features educational material for all employees to access support with menopause and perimenopause, and open conversations led by its employee Generations Associate Resource Group (ARG), aimed at driving change at its UK and Ireland sites.
Tracy Robinson, people and organisation director at Mars UK, Ireland and Nordics, said: “We’re proud to be menopause-friendly accredited. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our Generations ARG, a cross-generational network that champions age inclusivity and drives meaningful conversations around life-stage issues in the workplace. Their advocacy helped spark essential dialogue, around menopause in the workplace and inspired many of the meaningful changes we implemented across the business.”
Nick Foster, general manager of Mars Pet Nutrition UK, Ireland and Nordics and leadership sponsor of the Generations ARG at Mars, added: “We know that fostering an inclusive culture isn’t just the right thing to do, it also drives stronger engagement, retention and performance across our organisation.
“With an estimated six million people employed in the UK experiencing menopause, it’s essential that we create environments where individuals feel confident to speak up, ask for the support they need, and continue to thrive in their careers. This accreditation marks an important step forward in ensuring all our employees feel seen, heard and valued at every stage.”
