Together with partner agencies, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service shares a commitment to making its communities safer places to live, work and visit.
“We have worked hard to develop a positive culture around menopause by listening to our staff to understand the needs of our people and how this relates to their working environment,” says Jordan Kerman, Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing. “Our staff have demanding and responsible roles, and we view creating an inclusive workplace not just as a duty, but as an opportunity to support their wellbeing and foster a supportive environment.”
The Menopause Friendly Accreditation, established by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace, recognises high standards and proven practices that embrace menopause in the workplace. Industry-recognised and the only accreditation that sets clear standards which must be met, it is truly meaningful and considered as a mark of excellence for menopause in the workplace. In order to achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service was assessed by an Independent Panel and had to demonstrate evidence of its effectiveness in five key areas, namely: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.
Key changes that made a lasting impact at Humberside Fire & Rescue Service included:
- Writing a Menopause Policy which set out guidance for employees to support their journey through both perimenopause and menopause.
- Hosting a health and wellbeing event and engaging staff in women’s health topics, aligning action to International Women’s Day and holding menopause awareness workshops
- Establishing a Menopause networking group in 2023 which acted as a key driver during its journey to becoming accredited.
“The single most important area we addressed was to have an open and honest approach to menopause starting with our workshops and awareness events,” says Jordan. “Our staff reported feeling valued and supported by their peers which has created a more inclusive workplace.”
Humberside Fire & Rescue Service takes pride in its Occupational Health & Wellbeing Team having a positive, proactive and forward-thinking approach to menopause. It engaged staff members of all genders to work towards the Menopause Friendly Accreditation thus breaking the stigma around menopause and making it a more spoken about topic within the Service. As well as improving its own workplace environment, the Service believes members of the public will also benefit from its staff having a greater understanding about menopause.
“I’d like to congratulate Humberside Fire & Rescue Service on achieving Menopause Friendly Accreditation in recognition of making such a positive impact within its workplace,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO and Founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. “The team recognised that the key to changing the lived experience for colleagues is to break down the stigma around menopause to allow staff to feel confident, safe and empowered to be open and honest about signs and symptoms. From there, its bespoke policy, awareness-raising events and ongoing transparency within its network have created a more understanding and caring workforce.”
“We are very proud to be the first Fire and Rescue Service in the UK to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation,” says Jordan. “This is a major milestone and we remain committed to continuing our growth as an inclusive organisation where all employees of Humberside Fire & Rescue Service feel confident and comfortable at work.”