Menopause in the workplace: introducing Greene King's new policy

Did you know that menopause affects approximately 51% of the UK population? This means at some point in your career, you, your family members, friends, or work colleagues may be directly impacted by the Menopause. Beyond its physical effects, menopause affects emotions and daily life. Our new Menopause policy prioritises listening, understanding, and fostering a culture where discussing menopause is normal. It’s not just about managing symptoms; it's about creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and valued.

Menopause officially starts a year after a person’s last period. But here’s the catch, everyone’s experience is different. The variety of experiences is why understanding and supporting each person going through menopause is so important.

Believe it or not, there are 48 potential symptoms associated with menopause. These can range from hot flushes and night sweats to poor sleep and low mood. These menopause and perimenopause symptoms can shake things up in your daily life, affecting relationships, social life, family life and work. The symptoms can be both physical and mental, affecting mental health.

As said by Andrew Bush, Greene King’s chief people and transformational officer, “We recognise there is not a one size fits all approach as people have different experiences of menopause and menstruation. What we have done is listen to what our team members say about this, how they want stigma removed and for these topics to be part of an everyday conversation when needed”.

Here at Greene King, we’re excited to share our commitment to providing even more support for our incredible team of 39,000 as they navigate the various stages of their careers and lives. We’re thrilled to present our new Menopause and Menstruation Policy. Our Employee-Led Inclusion Group, Greene Sky, played a key role in speeding up this initiative after hosting a series of listening sessions over the summer.

Following the listening sessions, we then set out the key components of our Menopause Policy. The policy is intended for:

- You, so you feel you can ask for or access to the help you need without judgement.
- Line Managers wanting to support a member of their team.
- Team Members experiencing symptoms or working with team members who are.
- Allies who want to offer their support to others, in and out of work.

Our policy is here to support you in every way possible. It’s not just about managing absences or making adjustments; it’s about providing you with valuable information and ensuring comfort when discussing these topics. We’re committed to our promises and expectations from everyone. Additionally, it will guide you to the right support resources you might need and where to explore further information.

Our ELIG groups have played a pivotal role in helping to shape the new policy. The listening sessions organised by Greene Sky, the valuable feedback from our Village Greene and the insights from Unity have all contributed significantly. Learning about how Menopause and Menstruation can affect people differently has been truly enlightening, particularly in cultures where these topics remain unacknowledged or unmentionable. This highlights how crucial it is to offer learning opportunities and create safe environments for open conversations.

Now that our new policy is in effect, our goal is to make these conversations feel natural and offer valuable guidance to our team members and line managers. We want everyone to be able to support each other meaningfully and create an inclusive environment where everyone can truly be themselves.

Greene King employees can access the full guide or further details on Kingdom or the Vault. Alternatively, you can learn more about the menopause policy here.