We are delighted to have signed-up to the Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme.
As part of Support Staffordshire’s commitment to ensure all employees can thrive at work and reasonable adjustments are made for people with disabilities and long-term conditions, we have signed up to become an Endometriosis Friendly Employer. We want to help drive positive change in the workplace for the 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth with endometriosis.
Endometriosis, a common, sometimes debilitating but often ignored gynaecological disease, costs the UK economy £8.2 billion a year in loss of work, treatment and healthcare costs.
By joining this scheme, companies like Support Staffordshire are committing to ensure that those with the disease can contribute to the best of their ability and pursue the career of their choice – this is a win for the employer, a win for the individual, and a win for the economy as a whole.
The scheme, which is led by the charity Endometriosis UK. provides guidance on how to support employees with endometriosis, with employers committing to providing those with the condition the necessary support to thrive at work.
Our communications officer Kate Jackson has lived with the condition for more than 20 years and was the first to realise how being an Endometriosis friendly employer fitted with our ethos. “I joined Support Staffordshire in May 2024 and soon realised what a supportive organisation it was. I mentioned my condition in my interview and instead of worrying about how my condition would affect my ability to carry out the job, my managers were keen to learn more about it. When I started the role, I was asked how I could be supported to manage my condition at work. I’ve been given the option to work flexibly; working from home if I’m having a flare up and being able to change my hours to attend appointments. People also are very caring and supportive if I have bad days, asking what they can do to help me. This has led to me feeling more comfortable to be honest about my condition with my colleagues and allowed me to manage my time and workload more effectively. I feel like I am now able to reach my potential and be productive at work. It’s made a massive difference to my life and taken the stress away from worrying about managing my condition at work.” Kate has become the Endometriosis Champion for our organisation and has delivered a lunch and learn session on what it’s like to live with the condition. This has helped us raise awareness within our team and help us understand the condition a little more.
Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK said: “I’m delighted to welcome Support Staffordshire to the diverse range of organisations tackling taboos around menstrual health and endometriosis through the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme. By showing their employees they are valued and can expect support and reasonable adjustments to help those with endometriosis and menstrual conditions succeed at work, they will be increasing engagement across the whole of their workforce, ultimately making the organisation more successful.”
