Britain’s biggest rail franchise backs Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign & pledges to create policies for 27k workers
IT’S something that will affect half the population at some point – but despite this, the menopause still remains a taboo in most workplaces.
It’s for this exact reason that we’ve created our Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign – to destigmatise this transition and ensure women are receiving the support they need.
Earlier this year, we revealed how dozens of big businesses – including John Lewis, Morrisons, Co-Op, Sky, Nationwide and M&S – have told us they’ll be doing more to support their female employees.
And now The Go-Ahead Group – which is the UK’s biggest rail franchise and one of the four largest bus operators – have announced they’re pledging to introduce new menopause policies in response to our campaign.
Scott Maynard, Group People Director, The Go-Ahead Group, said: “We know that going through the menopause can pose challenges for women in the workplace.
“We’re absolutely committed to supporting our colleagues and to improving the level of understanding of this issue.
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“As one of Britain’s biggest public transport operators, Go-Ahead Group is proud to support the Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign and we applaud The Sun for broadening awareness of this subject.”
The company – which employs 27,000 people – also revealed they are now creating menopause support policies for their female workforce after running a series of educational seminars for managers.
What’s more, Aldi has also backed our much-needed campaign too having recently released a menopause support guide for their 33,000 workers.
Vicky Metcalf, Diversity and Inclusion Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are really pleased to back The Sun’s Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign and increase awareness of an issue that impacts so many of our colleagues.”
Their backing comes as our exclusive survey for the Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign found that women usually first notice symptoms around the age of 47, 18 years before the accepted retirement age.
It means millions of women face brain fog, anxiety, hot flushes, memory loss and other debilitating symptoms at work.
The menopause forces up to one in eight women to leave their jobs, while others take time off, opt for early retirement or pass up promotions because of difficult symptoms.
Pledge to join the campaign and introduce policies at your workplace by emailing fabulous@fabulousmag.co.uk.
Fabulous Menopause Matters
An estimated one in five of the UK’s population are currently experiencing it.
Yet the menopause is still whispered in hush tones like it’s something to be embarrassed about.
The stigma attached to the transition means women have been suffering in silence for centuries.
The Sun are determined to change that, launching the Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign to give the taboo a long-awaited kick, and get women the support they need.
The campaign has three aims:
- To make HRT free in England
- To get every workplace to have a menopause policy to provide support
- To bust taboos around the menopause
The campaign has been backed by a host of influential figures including Baroness Karren Brady CBE, celebrities Lisa Snowdon, Jane Moore, Michelle Heaton, Zoe Hardman, Saira Khan, Trisha Goddard, as well as Dr Louise Newson, Carolyn Harris MP, Jess Phillips MP, Caroline Nokes MP and Rachel Maclean MP.
Exclusive research commissioned by Fabulous, which surveyed 2,000 British women aged 45-65 who are going through or have been through the menopause, found that 49% of women suffered feelings of depression, while 7% felt suicidal while going through the menopause.
50% of respondents said there is not enough support out there for menopausal women, which is simply not good enough. It’s time to change that.