In order to achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, Havens Hospices, which provides specialist care and support for people of all ages living with incurable conditions, worked with Henpicked, which champions support in the workplace for people experiencing menopause symptoms. The charity 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.

The Menopause Friendly Accreditation certifies 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, the Menopause Friendly Accreditation is truly meaningful and considered a mark of excellence for menopause in the workplace.

Dawn Hathaway, Head of Organisational Development and People at Havens Hospices, says, “Becoming a menopause friendly employer aligns with our strategic focus of ‘Prioritising our People’. As our workforce is 86% female with an average age of 46, it is simply the right thing to do.

“By becoming menopause friendly, we have taken meaningful steps to provide support to our colleagues, creating a culture where people feel safe to speak openly and advocate for their wellbeing. When people feel valued and supported, they can bring their best selves to work and fulfil our charity’s vision to ‘make every day count’ for patients and their families.”

Dawn highlighted three aspects of which the organisation is most proud in terms of changes they have implemented as part of becoming menopause friendly:

• The Impact of Peer Support. The Women’s and Menopause Network is one of Havens Hospices’ most progressive networks. They have 14 Menopause Champions helping colleagues to feel supported, informed and empowered to make choices about their health and wellbeing. 
• Positive Impact on People’s Wellbeing and Experience. Since beginning their menopause-friendly journey, there have been tangible improvements in employee wellbeing and experience, as demonstrated in employee survey results. Havens Hospices experienced a notable increase in people acknowledging that the charity actively encourages employees to improve their wellbeing and has access to support at work. 
• The Training Programme. Menopause awareness training is important to the charity’s broader commitment to wellbeing and inclusion. Mandating training for managers resulted in a significant increase in managers’ confidence in supporting employees with menopause. Delivering training to colleagues who are shift workers, care staff, and workers based off-site posed challenges. To address this, the Leadership Team enabled Havens Hospices to ‘take the training to them’ through team meetings, care training days, and informal settings, such as ‘tea and toast’ groups. 

Not only has this been appreciated by colleagues, it also led to Havens Hospices being shortlisted for the Best Trained Workforce category at this year’s Menopause Friendly Employer Awards.

Dawn continues, “Becoming accredited demonstrates our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion. Having the external validation and benchmarking shows that it’s not just a tick-box exercise – it goes further than that. It’s a genuine investment in creating a supportive and inclusive workplace and assures colleagues that our approach is evidence-based and reflects best practice.”

Deborah Garlick, Founder and CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, says, “Given the charity’s workforce is predominantly female and within the menopause age bracket, Havens Hospices’ results are extremely encouraging. It is really encouraging to witness this high level of engagement from a workforce and their recognition that menopause is a topic for everyone, from leadership to employees who are experiencing menopause, either directly or supporting someone else.”

Achieving the Menopause Friendly Accreditation is a significant milestone for Havens Hospices, reflecting its ongoing commitment to putting people at the heart of everything it does. By fostering an open, supportive and inclusive workplace, the charity is not only improving the wellbeing of its colleagues but also strengthening its ability to deliver outstanding care for patients and their families, today and in the future.

Published on 9th October 2025