According to our research, more than half of British women admit their employer knows very little about the physical and emotional effects of the menopause. This simply isn’t good enough. After all, the menopause affects every element of your business where people are involved, whether employees or customers.
At GenM, we walk you through understanding the impact of menopause symptoms and help your company to use its platform to normalise the conversation surrounding the topic. Additionally, we help you to better represent the menopause in future products, services, signposting, campaigns, and workplace policies.
While it is not currently a legal requirement to have a menopause policy in place, we think organisations should help to support their employees through ‘the change’. But any policies cannot simply be a case of box-ticking. As mentioned previously, the starting point needs to be the culture of the workplace, from normalising the conversation to spreading awareness of symptoms. If the environment is not supportive to the needs of employees then any policies will not be effective.
The menopause directly affects half of humanity, and indirectly, it impacts all of us. With more women working into their later life, and 10% of women’s symptoms lasting up to 12 years3, this issue will only become more and more important in the workplace.
We’re working together with over 40 brands, big and small, to create a world where the menopause is no longer a barrier for women in the working world. With over 15.5 million women in the UK currently going through the menopause, as well as many trans and non-binary people, what will you do to help improve the menopause experience?
1 https://gen-m.com/insight/
2 Government Report on Menopause
3 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/
About Heather and Sam
Friends and businesswomen, Heather Jackson and Sam Simister, co-founded GenM, having personally experienced the distinct lack of support, understanding and accurate representation of the menopause at home, at work and in society.
With over 40 brands onboard as Founding Partners, GenM is fast becoming a voice for the menopause that’s too loud to ignore. Alongside companies such as Marks & Spencer, Holland & Barrett and Next, they are working to transform attitudes and normalise the conversation, and helping brands to better cater for menopausal customers and employees, ultimately improving the health and happiness of millions with menopause-friendly products, services, signposting, workplace policies and marketing campaigns.
Both founders have had long and varied business careers. Heather Jackson, having founded organisations such as An Inspirational Journey and Believe Corporate Relations, has spent decades helping organisations to draw out the best from their talent and enable them to reach their full potential.
Currently serving as Future Development DIrector at Innocent, Sam Simister’s career includes international experience in the food industry with companies such as Safeway Stores PLC (Chilled Foods), International Britannia (USA), Kings Supermarket (USA), Marks & Spencer PLC as well as her own ventures both home and abroad.
