Our HR Director, Sarah Findlater, talks about how we’re opening up the conversation and breaking down the stigma

The menopause is a big topic at M&S – 70% of our colleagues will experience the menopause and 100%, at some point, will know someone going through it. So, whether you’re experiencing the menopause or you’re the colleague, manager, friend, partner, sister, or brother of someone experiencing it, it is important that we feel able to talk about it.

Not just today – on World Menopause Day – but every day.

However, being honest, it’s not something we’ve always been very good at. A lack of awareness and understanding, embarrassment and feeling like it is a taboo topic in the workplace are some of the reasons why our colleagues shied away from talking about the menopause. So, we have spent a lot of time listening (and continuing to listen) so we can do better.

Today, I wanted to share some of the ways we’ve responded to ensure we are supporting colleagues experiencing or impacted by the menopause to make M&S a place where we can talk about normal bodily changes, and everyone feels like they can be their best and be themselves.

It can be difficult for colleagues to open-up and have conversations about symptoms with their line manager. To help we teamed up with menopause experts, Henpicked, to offer training to all managers to give them the confidence to have these conversations. And, to help all colleagues understand the impact menopause can have, we curated a Menopause Hub with lots of tools and resources.

In April (but something we should have done much sooner) we introduced menopause-friendly uniforms that are more comfortable and breathable. Since it launched, colleagues have ordered more than 61,000 pieces from the collection which shows how needed it was.

Our HR systems were not set-up to record any menopause related absences – this was making it more challenging to have open conversations with mangers but thanks to a brilliant idea shared by one of our wonderful colleagues, Claire Button, through our suggestion scheme – Straight to Stuart – we will be introducing a menopause absence code from the end of this month. Making menopause part of our company language is a brilliant step forward in busting the stigma.

Underpinning all of this is our 2,000+ strong colleague-led menopause network (which is also M&S’ biggest colleague network) where colleagues from our stores, support centres and warehouses can come together to share experiences and advice in a safe and supportive space. It’s this network of incredible people that has been instrumental in driving so much of the change I’ve written about above.  

To recognise the progress we’re making, this month M&S was awarded the Menopause Friendly Accreditation by Henpicked and its independent panel of experts. It’s reassuring to know we’re on the right path – building awareness, having open conversations, continuing to break the stigma – but we know there’s more to do.

In our last menopause survey, 67% of colleagues said they had seen a positive change in our focus and support on the menopause. Next year, I want to be writing that this figure is 100%!

I’m the HR Director at M&S but I’m also a woman who is starting to experience symptoms of the menopause and it’s both my personal and professional responsibility to continue to ensure we do better so that no colleague feels like they have to go through it alone.