01925 626253 |  info@spirehr.co.uk

Menopause in the workplace – more from your HR(T) experts

by | Mar 9, 2023 | HR Resources

Facts are facts. Menopausal symptoms affect more than 75% of women. It is estimated that 13 million women in the UK are currently pre or menopausal.

As calls to protect women going through menopause from potential workplace discrimination intensify, the UK government has shown hesitance in taking further steps. Despite a report issued last July by the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee recommending for making Menopause a “protected characteristic” under The Equality Act – much like age, race or disability – governmental action is yet to take place due to fears that it could potentially be seen as discriminatory against men.

While the future of legislative changes are unclear, employers can take steps to create an inclusive working environment for women going through menopausal changes in their organisation. Consider implementing policies that are tailored for menopausal women, flexible working hours and work-from-home options, as well as a variety of resources offering support with managing symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings.

Starting 1 April 2023, women in England will be able to benefit from reduced hormone replacement therapy (HRT) fees for menopause! The new PPC prescription certificate program is estimated to save around 400,000 female customers hundreds of pounds annually on medication – reducing costs to under £20 per year. This is an excellent start on the path of making the lives of people who menstruate easier.

If you’re a business that hasn’t had the chance to think about your policies regarding menopause, we’ve got some advice.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • When did we last review our employee handbook?
  • Have there been any recent changes to legislation that we should be aware of?
  • When did we last provide Health & Safety training for managers?
  • Do we check in with our teams to find out how they’re doing?
  • We care because you care.

Why not see for yourself just how you can reach new heights with Spire HR, either on fixed HR retainer fees or one-off fees.
Protect your company. Invest in your staff. Get in touch today on 01925 626253 or click here!

 

As we had recently come up against some difficult staffing issues which we had not experienced before, Ellen Parkin at Spire HR was recommended to us by one of our business partners to guide and assist us with the complex HR legalities we needed to adhere to.

Ellen was very efficient and professional and gave us instant confidence that she would be able to competently provide the help we needed. Ellen was readily accessible via email or telephone throughout the whole process and gave us the vital lifeline we needed during a very emotive and stressful time. Spire HR realised that as an SME, we had to balance the commercial viability for HR consultancy with the expertise and guidance we needed and Ellen was open and honest from the outset, providing a cost-effective and professional service. I would therefore have no hesitation in recommending Spire HR to anyone.

 

We are too small to justify a full-time HR employee; yet we cannot afford to ‘get it wrong’ The excellent service offered by Spire HR Solutions is the perfect solution for us

 

AGP have used Spire HR Solutions Limited for numerous matters relating to HR issues for both ourselves and clients of the practice. I have always found them to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful and to be very responsive to our needs.

Spire is now the practice’s first point of contact for any HR issues we encounter and I would certainly recommend them to anyone in need of assistance with any HR matters.

 

Ellen has helped streamline procedures and provide greater controls through her extensive knowledge and professional dedication, which has enabled me to concentrate on my main objective, growing the business.

I would say ‘key’ to her service is the confidence she provides with the HR guidance, I know without doubt that when dealing with my employees I follow the correct procedure and staff feel confident that they have the right HR support. The guidance on our bonus structure and appraisal scheme is one of many examples in which Ellen’s guidance has been invaluable.

I have been pleased with work Ellen has done for us and would not hesitate to recommend her to others. She provides a high quality, professional service and is very responsive to the needs of a small, growing organisation.

 
Get HR advice - Get in touch