Scheme Principles

Endometriosis Friendly Employer principles

By signing up to be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer, an organisation is committing to work towards the principles of the scheme, given below.

All organisations are different, and the scheme has been designed to give you the flexibility to develop and implement initiatives that best support your employees. By signing up to the scheme you are demonstrating your commitment to proactive work to  incorporate these principles into everyday life at your organisation.

1

Leadership and management support: vital to ensure the employer is committed to becoming an Endometriosis Friendly Employer and change will happen.

1.1

Evidence of Senior Leadership buy in that the organisation should be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer

Seeing active engagement and support from the top will be vital if behaviours and culture are to change

1.2

Review, update and implement policies to support those with endometriosis

Depending on your organisation, this could relate to reviewing existing HR and facilities policies. Or you may decide to develop a new endometriosis support policy.

 

You will be ensuring that you have in place, in a way that best suits your organisation, the policies and processes to support those with endometriosis – and that managers and employees know what to do if a colleague requires extra support.

1.3

Provide managers with the information and guidance they need to support someone with endometriosis

1.4

Support flexible working for those with endometriosis where possible

Those with endometriosis often seek flexibility to allow them to manage their condition whilst delivering the best work they can. Where an organisation can offer flexibility, employees with endometriosis can thrive therefore creating a win-win situation.

2

Tackling stigma and changing culture: so those with the disease can have the confidence and trust to discuss their condition with their manager.

2.1

Endometriosis Champion(s) to be a point of contact and information

People will help change attitudes and keep momentum. You’ll need to identify where best this is done in your organisation. This could be someone in your HR team, someone with personal experience of endometriosis or someone who is passionate about inclusivity in the workplace.

2.2

Stigma surrounding endometriosis is actively tackled.

It’s hard managing a chronic illness, and that can become even more difficult if it’s one that’s invisible, no-one seems to have heard of or understand, and the impression given is that it’s not something to talk about. Organisations should proactively plan to support staff and managers to be able to have conversations when needed, overcoming any stigma, embarrassment or taboo of talking about menstrual issues.

3

Communications: to raise awareness of endometriosis, the support offered and how this can be accessed.

3.1

Raise awareness of endometriosis

People need to be aware of an issue to enable a culture where employees are comfortable to talk about endometriosis.

3.2

Information on endometriosis is readily available, with signposting for more support 

So those that want to find out more can do easily, and gain confidence in how they can seek support


Sign up to be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer

 

Reviewing your commitment and tracking progress

At the end of your first year as an Endometriosis Friendly Employer signatory, we’ll ask you to complete a review giving an example of how you’ve worked to meet these principles. After that, we’ll ask you to complete a review every two years to show your ongoing commitment.

For your first and subsequent reviews, you will be asked to complete a simple online form based on the principles above and asking for an example against each criteria of how your organisation has worked towards this. Some examples are given below, however should not limit what you do. (A PDF version of the form can be viewed here).

Principle

Examples of examples …

1.1 Evidence of Senior Leadership buy in that the organisation should be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer
  • Letter from Senior Management supporting scheme
  • Senior Manager introducing being an Endometriosis Friendly Employer at staff conference
  • CEO blog on the scheme for staff

1.2 Review, update and implement policies to support those with endometriosis
  • HR policy on flexible working reviewed and updated
  • Facilities policies reviewed, no updated needed
  • Flexible working policy developed and implemented

1.3 Provide managers with the information and guidance they need to support someone with endometriosis
  • Guidance for managers added to intranet
  • Endometriosis Champion held a workshop for managers

1.4 Support flexible working for those with endometriosis where possible
  • Provide a case study

 

Any questions?

 If you’ve got any questions about the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme please contact us.

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