Diageo wins global award for advancing menopause-friendly workplaces
Geraldine Joanes, right, HR director with Diageo, with the firm’s Best Global Award in the Menopause Workplace Excellence Awards, pictured with Loretta Dignam, cheif executive officer of Menopause Hub Academy (Photo by Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography)
Diageo has been honoured with a Best Global accolade for introducing support measures, including flexi-time, adjusted uniforms, and desk fans to aid female staff experiencing menopause symptoms.
The premium drinks company was praised for its efforts to “normalise what will be part of every woman’s life” at the second Menopause Excellence Awards in Dublin.
In Ireland, Diageo has appointed and trained two menopause champions as part of its global ‘Thriving Through Menopause Guidelines’, aimed at raising awareness and providing resources to affected employees and line managers.
Measures include desk fans, air conditioning, comfortable uniforms, easy access to cold water and washroom facilities, flexible working hours for medical appointments and sick pay entitlements.
“We are committed to creating a supportive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected,” said Diageo HR director, Geraldine Joanes.
“As part of Diageo’s Society 2030 ambition for an inclusive workplace, we seek to understand and reduce barriers that could prevent colleagues going through menopause from reaching their full potential.”
Diageo was among several businesses throughout Ireland honoured for implementing policies to support women battling menopause symptoms in the workplace.
The awards were held at Dublin’s Royal College of Physicians and sponsored by Irish Life Health and Astellas Pharma.
Loretta Dignam, chief executive officer of Menopause Hub Academy, noted that companies such as Diageo are leading the way in making workplaces more menopause-friendly.
“Diageo and all award-winning companies are the leading lights in efforts to make workplaces, whether global multinationals or small family-run firms, menopause friendly,” she said.
“Their constant efforts and ongoing initiatives are proof that finally, the world of employment in Ireland is responding to the healthcare needs of women at work.
“Some women may experience very few symptoms of menopause and find it does not impact their working lives to a great degree.
“But for countless others, the experience is very different and can severely limit their capacity to work full-time, or work at all in many cases.
“Menopause in the workplace is good for women but also good for business, improving productivity, reducing absenteeism, retention of talent and avoidance of legislative risk.”
