Employee benefits provider Unum UK has signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge as part of its support for the Wellbeing of Women campaign, and to take positive action to support employees experiencing the menopause.
More than 1,000 employers, including The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and NHS England, which have signed up since October 2021, when the Wellbeing of Women charity launched the pledge, which is partnered with Hello! Magazine and supported by Bupa.
According to Unum UK, it made this move to encourage open and respectful conversations about menopause symptoms, remove the taboo around women’s health, and actively support employees in the workplace to reduce stress and improve productivity.
Unum recently partnered with Bupa to offer all employees with female reproductive organs free access to its menopause plan. This includes 45 minutes with an experienced menopause trained GP to help identify symptoms, answer concerns and advise on treatments or next steps, a 15-minute check-in 12 weeks later to talk through changes and improvements, and a 24/7 health line for unlimited nurse advice for 12 months following their first appointment.
In addition, all staff and their partners can access a menopause trained GP via Unum UK’s health and wellbeing app Help@hand. The remote GP service allows them to book an appointment with a doctor that specialises in either female reproductive health, the menopause, or both.
Jane Hulme, HR director at Unum UK, said: “Menopause is a natural part of life, and we recognise that it can have an impact on wellbeing in the workplace. We are proud to support our colleagues so that we nurture and retain the best talent and allow all our employees to bring their whole selves to work.”