B. Braun Medical Ltd launches programme to support women’s health in the workplace

21st September 2022

Leading healthcare company B. Braun Medical Ltd has launched a pioneering programme to prioritise women’s health in the workplace.

Tailored packages of support – from workshops to an online resource hub – are being spearheaded by a newly formed women’s health and menopause working group.

The Sheffield-based company has 956 female employees and people assigned female at birth - 525 of which are aged 40 to 60 potentially dealing with peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms.

The new working group is now developing and delivering dedicated guidance, education and support to managers and individual staff members.

Menopause workshops are being offered to staff which cover how to recognise and manage menopause signs and symptoms, provide self-care tips, and shed light on the powerful impact menopausal hormonal changes can have on women physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A significant priority for the award-winning company is to support staff members potentially struggling with their symptoms to have conversations with their managers and GPs and to inform managers on how to have those conversations with their teams.

Sam Langford, Health and Wellbeing advisor and working group member, said: “After running several health and wellbeing drop-ins, there was an overwhelming unmet need from female and non-binary staff members to talk about menopause and the symptoms they were dealing with in the workplace.

“We found a general lack of awareness about what menopause is and even some women experiencing symptoms didn’t know what was causing them and so didn’t know where to go for support.”

As part of their focus on wellbeing, B. Braun Medical Ltd now incorporate women’s health education as a key element of their Leadership Training Scheme. This ensures managers throughout the business understand how to look after their wellbeing and that of their staff and feel comfortable having conversations on the topic.

Jodie Hall, Employee Engagement Manager, said: “We found this particularly important for our younger colleagues and younger male colleagues who may not know as much as they would like to about issues such as menopause.

 “Our efforts have helped link us up with expertise and products within B. Braun. One of our sales managers is passionate about endometriosis and they have technology called the Aesculap EinsteinVision, a 3D camera system used to help consultants diagnose the condition.

 “We also have a product called Diveen that assists with stress incontinence and through the working group, we’re able to raise awareness for a range of women’s health issues and the products that we sell within the company that can assist women with their symptoms.”

 B. Braun’s working group are planning a series of face-to-face and virtual events for staff and managers utilising B. Braun and external experts around the menopause, endometriosis, and other women’s health issues.

 The company have also recently introduced the provision of free menstrual products in communal bathrooms as a simple but highly effective way to support colleagues with period dignity in the workplace.

Sam added: “There’s still a long way to go but in the space of a year, how far we’ve come is incredible – we’re encouraging conversations and peer support groups, encouraging each department to set things up that work for them.”

 B. Braun Medical Ltd holds the coveted Investors in People (IiP) Gold Mark of Excellence - the UK's leading people management standard. Gold accreditation recognises exceptional levels of people management practices, innovative approaches, and support for people to deliver the organisation’s ambition.