We’re a Menopause Friendly employer!

Two years since we initially committed to becoming a Menopause Friendly employer, we are proud to share that our hard work has paid off and we’ve achieved the accreditation.

What the Menopause Friendly Accreditation means

A Menopause Friendly Accreditation, established by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace, is industry recognised, and the only accreditation that sets clear standards which must be met. The accreditation is truly meaningful and considered a mark of excellence for menopause in the workplace.

What this means to us

Being Menopause Friendly isn’t a box-ticking exercise for us. It’s a formal commitment to something we’ve been working towards, making sure every colleague going through menopause feels supported and able to thrive at work.

Menopause affects roughly half the population, and according to the Fawcett Society, 1 in 10 women aged 45 to 55 have left a job because of menopause symptoms. We don’t want to be a firm where that happens.

For many, symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating can be debilitating. Without the right support, those symptoms don’t just affect wellbeing, they affect careers.

We pride ourselves on building a working environment where everyone can bring their true selves to work and feel seen and supported, regardless of what’s happening in their life or their body, at every stage of their working life.

What we did to achieve the Menopause Friendly accreditation

To achieve the full accreditation, we first committed to being a menopause friendly employer in 2024. Over the last two years, we have raised awareness internally and externally and carried out various training sessions for colleagues.

Ahead of our formal Menopause Friendly Accreditation, Barcan and Kirby was assessed by an independent panel and had to demonstrate evidence of its effectiveness in five key areas, which included:

• Culture
• Policies and practices
• Training
• Engagement
• Working environment

We have now joined a group of Menopause Friendly accredited employers, including FTSE100 companies, charities, public sector bodies, high street retailers and global banking groups. All proudly display their badge to show they have adjusted their working environment and implemented practices to change the lived experience of menopause in their workplace.

What we’re doing differently

Accreditation is the result of changes we’ve made, not just the starting point, and there is more to come.

We are proud to have the following:

• A clear, accessible menopause policy that gives guidance to both employees and managers
• Training for managers so they can have supportive, informed conversations with their teams
• Practical adjustments to working arrangements where symptoms make that helpful
• An open culture where people feel comfortable raising menopause without stigma

HR Manager, Claire Pennell, commented on the firm’s accreditation:

“I’m so proud that we have received this accreditation. Normalising conversations to remove stigma around menopause has been key to creating an open and supportive working environment. The openness of our employees in sharing their personal experiences has been truly inspiring, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed and continues to support Barcan and Kirby in ensuring everyone feels they belong.”

Further information

If you’d like to know more about our culture and values, or if you’re interested in joining a firm where people genuinely matter, we’d love to hear from you. Check out our vacancies here.

To find out more about The Menopause Friendly Accreditation, visit menopausefriendly.co.uk.