London—Dentons is pleased to announce that it has achieved Menopause Friendly Accreditation across its UK, Ireland and Middle East offices in recognition of its work to create a supportive environment for those experiencing menopause in the workplace.

The accreditation established by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace – a thriving employer community committed to being menopause friendly – is the only menopause accreditation that sets clear standards which employers must meet. To achieve this, employers are assessed by an independent panel and must demonstrate evidence of their effectiveness in five key areas: culture; policies and practices; training; engagement; and working environment. Dentons is now one of just six law firms across the UK to receive the accreditation.

Since announcing its commitment to becoming a menopause-friendly employer in 2023, Dentons has implemented a number of measures to create a supportive environment. These include a menopause policy, which highlights the firm’s responsibility and investment in health support, flexible working arrangements and relevant training for managers and colleagues.

With the addition of regular awareness-raising events and informal drop-in sessions to create a safe space for colleagues and managers to discuss their experiences, to date the firm has made the app Peppy available to all employees and partners which offers free guidance from expert practitioners and 11 trained and dedicated Menopause Mentors to offer confidential support. All efforts are designed to support those experiencing symptoms themselves as well as those supporting friends, family and colleagues. Further details of the firm’s efforts can be found in its recently published Responsible Business Impact Review 2024. 

Karen Peart, Legal Delivery Centre Operations Manager for Dentons, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this accreditation. Going through menopause can be a challenging experience and this recognition validates our long-running commitment to offering a safe and inclusive space for all our employees to thrive.  The depth and breadth of the offering is something I am particularly proud of, having found myself feeling ill-equipped and isolated at times, especially at the beginning of my menopause journey.”

Yvonne Garricks, Head of Talent Development, said: “I am immensely proud that Dentons is now one of only six law firms to have received this accreditation to date. It signifies a positive step forward in providing a supportive environment within the legal industry, which will benefit from efforts to support and retain senior female talent within its ranks.  None of this would have been possible without the support we have received at every step from senior leadership here at Dentons.”

In recognition of the proactive commitment and engagement from the Menopause Steering Group, Human Resources and the Responsible Business teams, Dentons was awarded “Women in Law: Best Initiative to Attract and Retain Talent” at this year’s Legal 500 ESG Awards in April.

Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, said: “Dentons is to be applauded for its excellent work around being a menopause-friendly employer and its accreditation is very well-deserved.” 

“Having a menopause policy is just the start of being menopause-friendly and taking action is where the impact is felt. With 11 Menopause Mentors included in offering support, Dentons is setting a great example of how best to implement meaningful conversations and change.”

For more information about the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, visit www.menopausefriendly.co.uk.

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