Amgen Ltd, a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to treat serious illnesses and rare diseases, has been awarded the Menopause Friendly Accreditation. Amgen Ltd harnesses the best of biology and technology to improve patient lives and remains at the forefront of scientific innovation.
An affiliate of Amgen Inc worldwide, whose head office is in Thousand Oaks, California, Amgen Limited is the UK arm of the business with offices in Cambridge and Uxbridge.
“Amgen Ltd. employs around 700 people in the UK and Ireland across our commercial, R&D and corporate functions. Of this, the single largest demographic is women aged 40-50, which is why we can’t shy away from addressing the important topic of menopause,” says Kath Gould, HR Director of Amgen Ltd. “Being menopause friendly is crucial as it aligns with the company’s commitment to support the mental health and wellbeing of employees. Fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace, where staff feel psychologically safe to share what they are going through, ensures all employees feel valued and understood.”
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, it is the only accreditation that sets clear standards which must be met. As such, it is truly meaningful and considered by many as a mark of excellence for menopause in the workplace.
To achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, Amgen Ltd was assessed by an Independent Panel and had to demonstrate evidence of their effectiveness in five key areas, namely: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.
Three Amgen Ltd initiatives that stood out to the Independent Panel are:
- Its Wellbeing/Menopause Hub
- Regular Share & Care Calls
- The supportive culture
“All these elements contribute to our education and raising awareness initiatives around the menopause,” says Kath. “As everyone has their own menopause experience at work, it was vital we addressed this as part of our approach to building an inclusive culture. Removing the stigma around menopause has been most impactful.
“Colleagues report being comfortable to raise the topic – be that with their manager, on the Share & Care calls or with colleagues in general: it’s a big win for everybody.”
Having the independent reassurance of gaining the Menopause Friendly Accreditation is important to Amgen Ltd to highlight the good work they have done and continue to do. Also, being part of the Menopause Friendly membership has allowed them to learn from other members to inspire their on-going practices.
“By helping our own staff, we not only make their lives better but help them to be better placed to help others and deliver on our Mission, which is ‘To Serve Patients’,” says Kath, who loves the positive reaction she hears from new employees at the New Hire Orientation events when they hear about the great menopause friendly workplace they are joining.
“I would recommend companies starting out on their menopause friendly journey, capture the evidence of impact early on,” advises Kath. “Your initiatives and changes need to be driven by what your staff want and need so encourage regular feedback – and act on it.”
“It is incredibly positive to hear of an organisation which is willing both to share its ideas and experiences to help others whilst also recognising the learning process remains on-going for themselves,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO & Founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. “Having such an open and embracing culture means Amgen’s workforce is assured that their wellbeing is of the highest importance.”