Train transport business Southeastern has been accredited as a menopause-friendly employer.
Established by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, accreditation is awarded to employers with proven practices that embrace and support those experiencing the menopause in the workplace. Organisations are assessed on the effectiveness of their culture, policies and practices, training, engagement, facilities, and evaluation.
Southeastern was recognised due to its support structures for managers, which enabled them to help members of their team, and its combined actions that brought conversations about the topic into the open, resulting in an increase in staff reaching out to its Women in Rail Empowerment (WIRE) group for support.
The business also introduced a suite of guidance documents on its intranet. Written with the support of Henpicked, this provided a foundation for staff and managers to refer to if they feel anxious discussing issues in-person, as well as signposting to available support and resources, and how employees can support others.
Southeastern also provided e-learning training to all line managers to give them the confidence to have conversations with staff and created menopause kits for its senior leadership forum, with many male colleagues taking them for their partners. It also introduced Menopause Matters drop-in sessions, providing a safe space for staff to share and learn.
Maureen Dominey, chair of the Women’s Network Group at Southeastern, said: “We have more than 500 female employees aged 40 or above but it’s important to remember that it’s not just women that the menopause affects, it’s everyone around them as well.
“The e-learning training that’s available to all our line managers is an incredibly useful tool to help raise awareness and gives our managers the confidence to have the conversation. When we first started talking about the menopause, some people were uncomfortable but that’s no longer the case, it was important to remove that taboo.”
Mark Johnson, engineering director and executive sponsor for Southeastern’s Women in Rail Empowerment group, added: “Gaining this accreditation means a lot to us and our staff, as the accreditation process encouraged us to involve all areas of the business including frontline and office-based colleagues.”