Group chief executive Olly Nicholls paid tribute to the trade-led Travel Talks Menopause group and Merlin Entertainments’ Dominique Sidley for raising the profile of the issue across an industry with a heavily female-dominated workforce.
Head of operations Vanessa Matthews oversaw the policy’s creation, and said it would provide staff the support they need when experiencing symptoms ranging from restlessness and anxiety to depression and low self-confidence.
"Now that we have a support system in place, we believe we can speak honestly about how we feel – whether in a one-on-one conversation or through scheduling flexibility," said Matthews.
The policy outlines AWG’s commitment to becoming an inclusive and people-first employer by offering a "straight-forward" approach to supporting staff experiencing menopausal symptoms.
A menopause awareness team will provide guidance and support to all staff members, including managers, on how to identify and manage menopausal symptoms, as well as practical advice on coping strategies.
Nicholls added: "We are always looking at ways to support our team members as we build a new culture and surround that with core policies that allow for an engaged and spirited team.
"Having spoken with industry colleagues who had led the way with highlighting the effects of menopause, it was critical that we moved quickly on this policy.
"I would also like to say thank you to Lindsay Garvey-Jones at Holiday Extras/Travel Talks Menopause and Dominique Sidley of Merlin Entertainments for raising the profile of the menopause across the industry and making people take notice."
