Leading local law firm appoints its first menopause champion

Thames Valley law firm, Gardner Leader, has appointed Senior Associate, Hilary Messer, as its first Menopause Champion.

Hilary's new appointment is said to mark another milestone in the award-winning law firm’s continued investment in health and wellbeing support initiatives for its growing workforce.

After more than trebling in size in the last ten years, Gardner Leader now employs upwards of 180 staff, 75% of whom are female. The Menopause Champion role is thought to be one of the first in the legal sector and follows the appointment of Gardner Leader’s Wellbeing Champions, Fiona Curnow and Niamh Minihane.

Gardner Leader offers services to businesses and individuals, with offices in Swindon, Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, and London. 

The firm says it understands the importance of a happy workforce, and the vital role it plays in providing quality of service, and bringing clients peace of mind.

Gardner Leader is said to have built a reputation within the industry as a firm which invests in its employees’ wellbeing, and has previously won the LawNet ‘Excellence in Employee Engagement’ award, and the ‘Best Employer’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ categories in the Newbury Weekly News awards.

In its most recent employee engagement survey, the firm reported it had an employee net promoter score of +70.

As new Menopause Champion, Hilary’s responsibilities will include raising the profile of menopause awareness in the workplace, and encouraging staff to talk more openly about it.

Hilary said she will be lending advice on how best to lay out workspaces, how the firm can help members of staff who may be suffering from symptoms, as well as being on hand to provide confidential support and guidance.

Having received a Champion accreditation from The Menopause Experts UK programme, Hilary will be running sessions for all members of the Gardner Leader team - regardless of gender - where they can learn about menopause symptoms and mechanisms for support.

Hilary, also Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team, said: “Menopause remains a taboo subject both within and outside of the workplace. Generally, people are unaware of the symptoms or how best to support those that may be suffering from them.

"As a Menopause Champion for Gardner Leader, I am looking forward to helping to raise the profile for menopause in the workplace, and increasing people’s overall understanding of the transition that women go through and how it can affect them. Having a team that is more engaged in conversations around menopause will help us as a firm to better understand so we can offer the support that’s needed.”

Recently reported by Rest Less, there are said to be 5.1 million women aged 50 and over who are either currently working or looking for employment.

With people looking to work later into life, Gardner Leader says employers need to be mindful of life transitions like the perimenopause and menopause and the consequential symptoms of these.

Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner of Gardner Leader, said: “Ensuring our staff feel valued, supported and a part of a wider community is essential.  Hilary becoming the Gardner Leader Menopause Champion is another important step in building this sense of community and togetherness amongst the team.”

More about Gardner Leader can be found on its website at https://www.gardner-leader.co.uk/