Eye care and audiology organisation Specsavers uses its employee network groups and policies to promote menopause support in the workplace.
It has more than 2,500 optical, audiology and ophthalmology businesses in 11 countries and more than 23,000 UK employees.
The organisation has multiple employee network groups, including its MenoTalk group which is predominantly aimed at providing support and guidance for staff in its support office functions, retail stores, or manufacturing and distribution sites. The aim is to aid their journey and offer the right help with the menopause in the workplace. Through collaborative work with its employee network groups, Specsavers is able to provide staff with broad and targeted information about the condition.
It also has a suite of training available to educate and a Microsoft Viva Engage community to share news, updates and information and achieved menopause in the workplace accreditation from support organisation Henpicked as a result of its commitment and credentials.
Louise Furby, MenoTalk colleague network group co-chair at Specsavers, says: “Our menopause policies provide guidance on what assistance is available and our benefits package includes financial support for those wishing to seek further consultative advice. The package also covers the annual cost of a HRT prescription in England.”
Specsavers’ initiative was designed to help inform, educate and support its employees who are directly or indirectly affected by the menopause, provide those going through varying experiences with reassurance, and offer a safe space to discuss their symptoms.
It also hopes that managers supporting an employee through menopause can use the resources to educate themselves on the topic in order to create a confident and supportive environment and offer suitable and reasonable adjustments aiding mental and physical health.
Furby explains that this fosters open conversations and showcases the organisation’s commitment to its employees being at the heart of everything it does.
“While we welcome all positive changes as laid out in the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance that was updated in February, Specsavers has offered menopause in the workplace support for staff since January 2022 and we’ll continue to evolve and develop this, with input from MenoTalk members informing our plans and strategies through their lived menopause experiences that are aligned with our organisational goals,” she concludes.