Bristol Myers Squibb awarded prestigious honour for being the first employer to gain triple-region Menopause Friendly Accreditation

We are excited to share the news that Bristol Myers Squibb has been awarded a coveted Menopause Friendly Honour in recognition of being the first global employer to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation across three geographical regions: the UK, Australia, and the US.  

The Menopause Friendly Accredited ‘Firsts’ Honour is awarded to an organisation which has achieved a first-of-its-kind milestone, with Bristol Myers Squibb celebrating Menopause Friendly Accreditation in three global territories. Together, the UK, Australia, and the US have set an international benchmark showing that commitment combined with consistency embed truly meaningful support for colleagues across different regions, cultures, and workplaces.

The Menopause Friendly Accreditation was established in 2021 by Menopause in the Workplace by Henpicked. It is the only accreditation that requires employers to demonstrate through evidence to an independent panel their effectiveness in five key areas: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.

The journey for us in the UK began in 2021 when a personal story from a colleague acted as a catalyst for senior leadership to open the conversation and introduce training initiatives. Key actions included the formation of a menopause advocate network, mandatory training for all people managers, occupational health and HR colleagues, and a fast-track referral service giving colleagues free access to a registered menopause specialist.

Inspired by the UK’s success, Bristol Myers Squibb in Australia was one of the first employers to seek support from Menopause Friendly Australia in 2023 to work towards achieving Menopause Friendly Accreditation. The process allowed the team to understand gaps in knowledge and make physical and cultural adjustments to meet the needs of those experiencing symptoms. They tapped into comprehensive Menopause Friendly resources to help educate colleagues on perimenopause and menopause helping everyone better understand how to navigate their own symptoms or support colleagues.

It was then the turn of Bristol Myers Squibb in the US, which was accredited as Menopause Friendly in November 2025 by working together with the official Menopause Friendly partner MiDoVia. The organisation opened dialogue among colleagues and managers by introducing menopause awareness sessions and training modules to normalise the conversation and reduce the stigma. The US team also rolled out a dedicated menopause hub as well as robust guidelines to educate colleagues on menopause phases, hormones, symptoms, and available support resources.

Guy Oliver, General Manager at Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, said:

Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and creator of the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, said:

This is the second year of the prestigious Menopause Friendly Birthday Honours which recognise the contributions of outstanding individuals and organisations committed to championing menopause in the workplace.