BMS UK&I receives the Menopause Friendly Workplace accreditation

• Aparna Sreevalsan
• 22 August, 2022

Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland (BMS UK&I) received the Menopause Friendly Workplace accreditation, making it the first pharmaceutical company in the UK to acquire the award.

The menopause-friendly activities that BMS UK&I has pioneered to help women at work were praised by the panel as “excellent” in their application for Menopause Friendly Workplace Accreditation.

Initiatives included:

• A Rapid Access Female Treatment Service (RAFT) that allows employees experiencing menopausal symptoms to be referred to a consultant gynaecologist
• Training 17 menopause advocates across UK&I sites
• Reasonable adjustments form to help accommodate staff experiencing menopause symptoms
• A detailed internal menopause guidance document
• A menopause portal for employees to access support and information
• Training more than 60 per cent of the workforce on menopause awareness

The Award is part of the inaugural Menopause Friendly Employer Awards, organised by Menopause Friendly and supported by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).

Bristol Myers Squibb, HSBC, & Leicestershire County Council were announced as finalists for the Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year.

‘Most Open Workplace’ and ‘Best Support Group’ were the two categories with the highest number of applications, demonstrating the commitment by employers to open conversations and normalise menopause in the workplace.

Speaking about the awards, Deborah Garlick, CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, said, “Not long ago, menopause was so clearly a taboo in the workplace. The response to our awards is both humbling and encouraging.

“Seeing the first-class businesses supporting the event and the wide array of entries from employers, large and small, just goes to show the progress being made.

“There is remarkable work being undertaken by many employers: business by business we are changing hearts and minds to make a difference to people’s lived experience of menopause in the workplace.”

The awards attracted over 85 entries across 10 categories.

Menopause Friendly Accreditation recognises inclusive employers that build awareness and understanding of how menopause can have an effect at work and shows that a company takes the wellbeing of their colleagues seriously. Their members include largest UK companies like Burness Paul, HSBC, M & S Bank, NatWest Group, Pfizer, Santander, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Boots, No.7, etc.

Their team includes trainers, leaders, comms experts and healthcare and other industry professionals, bringing together collective know-how to educate and guide organisations towards receiving the Menopause Friendly accreditation.

Alongside the headline sponsor HSBC UK, first direct and M&S Bank, the Awards are supported by Bristol Myers Squibb, BAE Systems, Santander, Lloyds Banking Group, Boots, Peppy, Celerity, Theramex and Vitabiotics.

Awards will be held on 22 Sept 2022 and the event will be hosted by broadcaster Louise Minchin. Guests will join online and in person at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Paul’s.