Cera, the UK’s largest domiciliary care provider, has become the first home care provider in the country to achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation.
This accreditation ‘moves the dial’ for a sector with a predominantly female workforce and establishes best-practice principles to support women in care roles.
While over 600 UK businesses have committed to being menopause friendly, just over 200 have so far achieved full accreditation – with Cera becoming the first home care organisation to do so. This underscores Cera’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for its largely female frontline workforce and the care sector at large.
Adult social care is currently facing a vacancy crisis of 111,000 open posts. In a sector dominated by female employees – 81% of the care workforce are women – menopause is a ‘silent contributor’ to the growing challenge of retaining staff.
Annabel Taylor, Chief People Officer at Cera, said: “With growing workforce shortages affecting adult social care, retaining our most skilled and experienced frontline carers is a national priority. We are committed to building a sector where every individual can thrive through every stage of their life. Supporting our colleagues through menopause and perimenopause is at the heart of our ambition to promote inclusivity, wellbeing and empathy in the workplace. Achieving the Menopause Friendly Accreditation is a landmark milestone for us and the wider care sector.”
Women make up 82% of Cera’s 12,000-strong workforce, and more than a quarter are in the age bracket most commonly associated with menopause, making support for this group a strategic priority. This is especially critical in the wider context of adult social care, which will need nearly half a million additional workers by 2040 to meet the growing care needs of an ageing population.
The Menopause Friendly Accreditation, established by Menopause in the Workplace by Henpicked, is awarded to employers who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving the lived experience of menopause at work. Cera joins other menopause-friendly accredited employers, including FTSE 100 companies, public sector bodies, global banking groups and football clubs.
Cera achieved its accreditation following a rigorous independent assessment across five key areas: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.
Key initiatives implemented by Cera include:
- Culture: Fostering an open environment where menopause can be discussed without stigma.
- Policies and Practices: Offering a range of support options, including flexible working and uniform adaptations.
- Training: Rolling out mandatory e-learning for all employees to build awareness and understanding.
- Engagement: Establishing a network of Menopause Champions and monthly menopause workshops to drive continuous awareness and education.
- Working Environment: Making practical adjustments, such as providing fans or moving workstations to cooler areas.
Deborah Garlick, CEO of Menopause in the Workplace by Henpicked, said: “We’re delighted to see the progress Cera has made in building a workplace where menopause can be talked about openly and where colleagues feel genuinely supported. Their application for accreditation showed a clear, organisation-wide commitment – from senior leadership through to their menopause champion network – helping to raise awareness, build confidence and ensure support is available across the business. It’s encouraging to see menopause being embedded within wider wellbeing and inclusion initiatives, with colleagues increasingly engaging in conversations and accessing the support they need. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, practical approach that helps create a truly menopause-friendly workplace.”
By investing in a menopause-friendly environment, Cera is directly tackling the ‘cost of menopause’ as a part of its industry commitment to reducing the cost of recruitment within the wider industry. Cera’s menopause approach is therefore as much a commercial imperative as it is a moral one, ensuring that the UK’s most experienced carers stay where they are needed most: in the homes of our service users.