Co-op has enhanced its menopause policy after research reveals than almost two fifths of women who have gone through menopause have experienced anxiety at work.
The study also showed that over a quarter of women who undergo menopause suffered from depression.
Around 47% of women employees said dedicated support for the menopause should be available for colleagues in the workplace.
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However, 95% of managers said they never received training on how to support perimenopausal colleagues or those going through menopause. Around 52% of managers also confided they didn’t feel confident in supporting colleagues experiencing menopause.
As a result, the retailer announced it would launch a menopause support guide for all 4,500 managers across its food stores and other businesses to supplement its 2019 menopause policy.
The guide, which has been made in partnership with Usdaw and Unite has also been made available for free for other employers.
“It’s time to stop viewing the physical and mental impacts felt by those experiencing the perimenopause and menopause as just a women’s issue and rather as a workplace issue that we all have a role in supporting,” Co-op chief people and services officer Helen Webb said.
“We need to work together across business, government and society to end the stigma, so that no one else faces this alone.”
Webb added: “That’s why we’re proud to release our dedicated menopause support guide for managers as well as becoming a Founding Partner with GenM and signing the Women in the Workplace pledge to go even further in making positive changes in the workplace.”
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