PERI is on a mission to raise awareness of menopause in the workplace as part of the firm’s series of wellbeing-related topics.
The scaffolding and formwork specialist aims to normalise the conversation around menopause in the construction industry by offering dedicated support and resources to its employees.
Although there is currently no legal requirement for it to be included as part of an employee’s contractual agreement, PERI stated that it believes menopause is a topic that needs to be addressed.
Emma Quin, senior HR business partner at PERI UK, explained, “Research shows that around 75% of women will experience symptoms during menopause, with 25% of women experiencing severe symptoms that can have a big impact on their day-to-day life. If we are serious about making the industry a place where women can thrive equally, then we need to put these adjustments in place and be open to having conversations about menopause.
“We want to be recognised as a diverse and inclusive employer, and we are determined to retain and increase the female talent in our business.”
While construction remains a male-dominated industry, the number of women employed in the sector is slowly growing. According to a recent report by the ONS, women accounted for 15.8% of the workforce in 2023.
PERI recently introduced its Menopause Toolkit which provides guidance for employees and line managers. The action plan also includes flexible working opportunities to remove barriers that prevent employees from feeling their best at work.
Emma Quin added, “We will be encouraging employees to arrange welfare meetings with HR and their manager if they need support. This also means guiding managers on how to accommodate employees’ requirements in the workplace so that we can achieve the best possible outcome together.”
The initiative is being driven by PERI’s wellbeing team, with some of its members undertaking training on the topic to make support more accessible for all.
