While this is a day to celebrate, it’s also a day to reflect on how we address the challenges that women face in the workplace. As part of her role, Laura has spearheaded the roll out of our Menopause programme, in partnership with MenoHealth. We spoke to her to find out more about the programme:
Could you tell us a little bit about your career journey?
I now have over 10 years of experience working in HR within the Healthcare sector. Over that time, I’ve developed a strong passion for helping to define and develop People Plans, which support healthcare employees.
Having just celebrated my one-year anniversary with FME, I feel really proud that I’m able to contribute to building a more unified, collaborative culture and working environment.
What should healthcare organisations be doing to tackle the challenges women face in the workplace?
Gender equity remains an important problem in the Healthcare industry today, and it is no secret that there is still a lot of work to do to create a fair and equal working environment. One important area for improvement is ensuring current and future generations of women feel comfortable, confident, and supported as they approach and experience menopause.
Menopause can have an adverse effect on mood and mental health, yet the taboo surrounding the subject persists in workplaces today. Generally, employers offer little internal infrastructure to support peri-menopausal and menopausal women, despite them making up the fastest growing demographic in the UK labour force.
As a company that prioritises gender equity and employee wellbeing, this was not something we were willing to ignore.
How does Fresenius Medical Care support its female employees?
In 2022, we partnered with MenoHealth and began the roll out our Menopause programme.
MenoHealth offers a unique programme of online workshops and easy exercise sessions to help businesses support colleagues through and beyond menopause. These are comprised of 30-minute sessions that fit conveniently into the working day, which can be accessed at a time convenient to the individual.
Menopause, whilst a common experience, can present differently for individuals, which is why we wanted to ensure there is variety in the types of workshops on offer. We also wanted to create a safe space and a sense of community amongst those who are experiencing symptoms, which is why we were sure to incorporate a Q&A community chat into the initiative.
What is in store for the future?
Our second Menopause programme is due to start in March 2023, and will explore further topics, such as hair and skin problems, anxiety, coping strategies to help you at work and home. The aim is to provide our team with vital information, support and practical assistance to help be prepared for and take control of menopause.
Looking towards the future, it's crucial for the healthcare sector to continue advocating for women's health and striving towards gender equity. As we reflect on the challenges that women face, it's clear that more needs to be done to address these issues. At Fresenius Medical Care, we are dedicated to supporting our female employees, which is why we have established a partnership with Menohealth and have pledged to support menopausal women in the workplace. We believe that every woman deserves access to quality healthcare and a workplace that prioritizes their needs. By taking action and working towards true gender equity, we can create a brighter future for women everywhere.