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Champion of progress Wayne’s a winner Online: myroyalmail.com/gender Email: [email protected] SECOND ISSUE The Royal Mail women’s magazine -mag JULY 2018
Champion of progressWayne’s a winner
Online: myroyalmail.com/gender Email: [email protected]
SECONDISSUE
The Royal Mail women’s magazine
- magJULY 2018
Welcome to the second edition of W Mag. Thank you for all your feedback on the first issue. As expected, it created a platform for women across the business to voice their opinions and help formulate our agenda for change.
Change happens to each and every one of us and often when we least expect it. Whether it’s a new job, an addition to the family, the loss of a loved one, a new manager, different colleagues or changing
how we are asked to undertake our work… change is all around us and we can’t always control when it happens.
We can, however, decide how we react to change, what we want to learn from change and think about how we can support others who are having to deal with change. The change agenda for women is significant. Not a day goes by without something appearing in the press or on social media about the agenda and we
all have a part to play in supporting it. Royal Mail has signed up to the
Everywoman platform, which you can read more about in this issue. I encourage everyone to log in to this valuable resource - there are lots of interesting articles and webcasts targeted both at women and men.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Wayne Jay, national logistics director, who won the inaugural Male Agent for Change Award at the FTA Women in Logistics Awards last month. It is fantastic that both Wayne and Royal Mail have been recognised in the industry for supporting women in the workplace.
I was lucky to be at the event myself. The atmosphere was amazing and it was fantastic to be part of an event where women are recognised and celebrated, and to be with our other finalists, Lorna McAtear and Debbie Rivers. Please think about who you could nominate for next year.
Finally, thank you to those who have contributed to this issue. I hope you enjoy the read and please keep the feedback coming! Remember to send in your ideas for stories too, to the email above. Liz Law, Women’s steering group chair
The menopause occurs when women stop having their periods and are no longer able to become pregnant naturally.
The menopause is a natural part of ageing and usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, but occasionally occurs much earlier or later than this.
How does it affect people?Common symptoms that may affect colleagues at home and at work include:
• Hot flushes and night sweats• Sleep disruption and Fatigue• Difficulty concentrating and poor
memory• Depression and anxiety.Although most women are able
to carry on with their personal and working lives as normal, for others their symptoms, which typically last around four years, can have a severe adverse effect, causing difficulties both at work and at home.
Reducing stress, eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly, as well as maintaining a healthy weight and staying fit and strong, can improve some menopausal symptoms.
How might the menopause affect you at work?Work can affect women going through the menopause in various ways. Hot flushes can be very uncomfortable and also embarrassing when they happen at work. The best way to manage these is to stay cool, wear looser fitting clothing, and ensure you have access to cool drinking water.
For some women, flexible working times may help to avoid travelling on busy transport or cope with disrupted sleep.
Support is availableNot everyone wants to talk about issues so personal to them and some will
naturally feel uncomfortable going to their line manager. If this is the case, you can either speak to a different manager
or phone the confidential Feeling First Class support line on 0800 6888 777.
For ideas on taking up a healthy lifestyle and help manage menopausal symptoms, visit feelingfirstclass.co.uk or use the code FFC1 to sign up.
World Menopause MonthTo raise awareness of health and menopause, the World Health Organisation and the International Menopause Society have designated October as World Menopause Month, with 18 October designated as World Menopause Day.
Menopause guidance Supporting women at work through the menopause
Send your stories to [email protected]
JULY 2018The Royal Mail women’s magazine- mag
For the fifth consecutive year, Royal Mail is one of The Times Top 50 employers for women. We have also been ranked with the highest combined gender diversity and social impact score within our industry by FTSE Russell, the global index provider.
Now our people are being recognised for the individual impact on improving diversity that they are making.
National distribution director, Wayne Jay, won the Male Agent of Change Award at the 2018 Freight Transport Association (FTA) Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.
Wayne is a great supporter of women in the workplace and an advocate of the considerable contribution that women have made in a historically male-dominated environment.
‘I am truly delighted to have received the award, and it’s particularly special being the first time this has been awarded,’ said Wayne. ‘It reflects the progress we have made in Logistics and
across Royal Mail. With continued focus we can carry on making Royal Mail an even better and more diverse place to work for everyone.’
When Wayne took on the role of national distribution director the ratio of women in senior roles was 12%. After he personally led a formal restructure across the function, the ratio of women in Wayne’s immediate senior team jumped to 50%. Overall, the ratio of senior women across national distribution has now increased from 12% to 22%.
Logistics director Euan McMurdo said: ‘Wayne is an outstanding leader in Logistics, an exemplar among his peers and a wholly dedicated, caring and nurturing champion of women and minority groups across our business and in the community.’
Wayne was joined by two other colleagues in Logistics as finalists at the awards, which celebrate the exceptional women transforming transport and
logistics in the UK. Debbie Rivers, regional fleet maintenance manager, made the shortlist for the Industry Champion Award and Lorna McAtear, fleet supply manager, was a finalist for the Supply Chain Award.
EverywomanRoyal Mail has signed up to the Everywoman platform – an online personal development tool geared towards empowering female employees to take control of their own career development. The platform is open to both female and male colleagues to register, and includes webinars, workshops, articles, videos and webcasts.
The Everywoman Network is a professional membership organisation, which champions the advancement of women in business at all levels. It provides personal development resources, leadership training, and networking opportunities for women in business and female entrepreneurs.
Top trio
From left, Lorna McAtear, Wayne Jay and Debbie Rivers
‘Our people are recognised for helping make Royal Mail a more diverse place to work’
Let us know what you think of W-mag - Use the contacts on the left to share your views.
Our diversity networks and how to get the most out of them Colleagues who voluntarily contribute to our diversity networks − whether by sitting on steering groups, developing diversity activities and good practice, or simply attending national and local events − are essential to creating and developing an inclusive and empowered workforce.
Get involved• Act as a workstream lead: Create the
strategy for your workstream activity and develop focused areas of work and priorities, as well as best practice from other organisations
• Be a workstream buddy: Support the delivery of your group’s workstream activity on the ground. Manage membership, organise steering group meetings, and liaise with members
• Act as a network buddy: Operate on a local level, updating noticeboards, speaking to colleagues via Worktime Listening and Learning (WTLL) sessions, circulating news items, and taking part in events
• Be recognised as a loyal friend/advocate: Attend events and promote the importance of diversity and inclusion among your colleagues and peers.
To find out more about how you can participate and get the most out of our
diversity networks, or to share the great initiatives of your existing network and discuss ways to collaborate, get in touch:
• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]
Julia Ffoulkes, central planning & programmes support manager, and Bernadette McFall, head of people - central and professional functions, lead the communications and recruitment workstream for the Women’s steering group.
‘Bernadette and I lead this group with all aspects of communication for the steering group,’ said Julia. ‘We’re currently only in the early stages of the roles but we’re looking to drive further awareness of the group through the various diversity networks.
‘The role takes up around four hours a month outside of the “day role”, but it’s really fulfilling. It’s great knowing that you are championing women in the business and playing an important part in identifying the gender balance within Royal Mail. We are currently looking at developing the right content for our
workstream by listening to colleagues, networking and providing the right balance of what our women want to learn about.’
Altogether Different e-Learning toolIn January, we launched the Altogether Different diversity and inclusion campaign. As part of the campaign, there is a diversity awareness e-Learning tool for managers (available on SuccessFactors). We urge all managers to please take the time to complete the e-module.
Got a story? Contact usPeter Kirby, internal communications channel manager: [email protected] group: [email protected]
Altogether different
JULY 2018The Royal Mail women’s magazine
Nominate your outstanding colleagues for the recognition they deserve. The Chairman’s Awards for Excellence celebrate the best of the best across Royal Mail.
Nominations are open until 13 July. Visit myroyalmail.com/chairmansawards2018 to nominate.
Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony, set to take place in London on 18 October, and winners will be announced on the day.
For every nomination received, Royal Mail will donate £1 to the Rowland Hill Fund and £1 to our charity partner, Action for Children.
- mag
Unsung heroes
Julia Ffoulkes: ‘It’s great knowing that you are championing women in the business’
