Gail’s has unveiled a “menopause action plan” ahead of new laws due to roll out next year, making it one of the first big consumer businesses to put such a strategy in place.
Under the plan, the high street bakery chain will offer its thousands of staff new benefits, including 24/7 digital GP access and a new employee assistance programme, The Times reported.
Gail’s will also explore new online training for staff, including specific training for management.
It comes ahead of new reforms to be introduced in spring 2027 under the Employment Rights Act. UK employers with 250 or more employees will be legally required to publish and update official ‘menopause action plans’.
The plans look to support employers to take effective action to improve workplace gender equality and support employees experiencing menopause, which can cause symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, brain fog and sleep disruption.
“All we’re trying to do is talk freely and for it not to be a forbidden subject. It’s helping our managers and teams understand that this isn’t a taboo,” Gail’s people director Miranda Burgum told The Times.
“We’re going to develop the education with our managers, so it will be threaded through all our policies. It will look at induction training, it will look at the types of people we need to make sure that we make reasonable adjustments for. And if somebody needs some sort of risk assessment, we’re going to be looking at [that].”
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