Northern Ireland’s electricity Transmission System Operator, SONI has signed up to the Menopause Accreditation Programme, a new learning initiative delivered in association with Work Life People.
The move will educate employees on the menopause and strengthen the support available to colleagues in the workplace.
SONI is the first company in Northern Ireland to sign up for Work Life People’s accreditation programme, which provides a comprehensive support framework built around six eLearning courses designed to build practical knowledge and confidence around the menopause.
The menopause affects millions of people during their working lives, yet it remains misunderstood and too often not openly discussed.
For employers, that knowledge gap can mean avoidable challenges such as talented employees leaving roles, performance being misread, or people struggling in silence rather than accessing adjustments that would make a difference.
SONI’s Head of People and Place, Colin Cairnduff said it’s about putting their people at the heart of everything they do.
“Menopause is a natural life stage, but for too long it has been treated as a taboo topic at work,” he explains.
“This programme will help us build a workplace where colleagues feel understood, where managers have the confidence to offer the right support and where no one feels they need to step back from their career because of a lack of awareness.”
By enrolling in the Menopause Accreditation Programme, SONI has taken a proactive and positive step to offer support to staff and make conversations easier.
The six-course eLearning pathway is designed to outline what the menopause is, and what it is not, as well as how symptoms can present.
It also illustrates how workplace factors such as stress, temperature, uniforms, shift patterns and workloads can compound the experience.
Likewise, it will support managers to have confident, sensitive conversations, signpost colleagues to appropriate resources and agree practical adjustments that help people stay well and productive. The programme also includes male colleagues in the menopause conversation which is essential when developing a more inclusive workplace.
The programme’s accreditation framework will help SONI to embed learning across teams, identify opportunities to refine policies and practices and ensure the organisation’s approach is informed by guidance rather than outdated assumptions.
Karina Todd, Founder and CEO of Work Life People, said menopause is a workplace issue, not just a women’s issue.
“Organisations that take menopause seriously are not just supporting individuals; they are retaining talent, improving wellbeing and strengthening workplace culture,” she said.
“Work Life People is proud to announce that SONI is the first organisation in Northern Ireland to join the Menopause Accreditation Programme.
“This is a real step forward for workplaces here and it sends a clear message that menopause isn’t something people should have to manage alone. SONI is both leading the way towards menopause-inclusivity and lighting the path for other organisations to follow.
“SONI’s commitment shows leadership and compassion, and it will help create workplaces where people feel supported, respected and able to stay in work through every stage of life.”
SONI’S participation reflects a broader shift in how progressive employers are approaching health and wellbeing by moving beyond one-off awareness sessions towards measurable, organisation-wide capability building.
As more people expect workplaces to recognise the menopause as a mainstream wellbeing and equality issue, this practical learning aims to improve day-to-day experiences for SONI staff.