Staff from across HSBC in Jersey had the opportunity to take part in a workshop recently with a visiting women’s health expert.
The staff could experience what the menopause feels like through an innovative vest that simulates menopausal hot flushes.
Tina Blackhouse, General Manager of Theramex, a women’s health pharmaceutical company and one of the funding partners of the MenoVest, visited Jersey recently and led a number of sessions for HSBC staff designed to encourage conversations about how the symptoms of menopause can impact people in the workplace and how colleagues can best support them.
During the sessions, staff had the opportunity to try wearing the MenoVest, an innovative training tool that aims to help to drive empathy between colleagues.
The sessions follow on from HSBC Channel Islands and Isle of Man signing up to the ‘51 Employers Pledge’ in 2022 as part of its commitment to supporting the wellbeing of staff who are going through the menopause. The 51 Employers Pledge, named after the average age that someone reaches the menopause, represents a commitment to implementing a number of measures in the workplace to ensure that people going through the menopause feel supported, understood and included.
Following her visit to HSBC in Jersey, Tina said: “It was inspiring to see how the menopause story has been cascaded and how keen staff were to talk safely and openly about their own experiences and how they can better support their colleagues and customers.”
Elvina Aghajanyan, Head of HR, HSBC Channel Islands and Isle of Man, added: “We were delighted that Tina was able to hold a number of sessions with colleagues, who were clearly very keen to try out the vest and have genuine conversations about how they can support colleagues who are experiencing menopause symptoms.
“These workshops build on our commitment last year to create a supportive environment where menopause can be openly discussed so that we can fully support the wellbeing of all our people.”
Pictured: Cameron Senior, Interim Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Channel Islands and IoM, trying out the MenoVest.
