Case Study 7

Case Study 7: IKEA Sweden – Global Menopause Guidelines for Co-workers

• Initiated: Autumn 2024 – Ongoing
• Provider: Ingka Group (IKEA Sweden and global retail operations)
• Target Group: IKEA co-workers, with a focus on midlife women, managers, and People & Culture teams
• Goal: To create an inclusive, stigma-free workplace where employees experiencing menopause can thrive. The Global Menopause Guidelines aim to foster open dialogue, support retention, and provide practical guidance to managers and HR teams.
  Key Actions
• Recognised menopause as a workplace wellbeing and inclusion issue through internal staff feedback
• Developed Global Menopause Guidelines as part of IKEA’s broader gender equity strategy
• Rolled out guidelines through internal comms and People & Culture teams
• Emphasised open conversations, awareness-raising, and support across life stages
• Provided internal resources for both managers and employees (not publicly disclosed)
  Impact
• IKEA Sweden is now cited as a national leader in workplace menopause policy
• Referenced in the Nordic Menopause White Paper and by other organisations (e.g., Lund University, Partille Municipality)
• Guidelines positioned menopause as a natural life stage, helping to reduce stigma
  Lesson Learned
• Leadership endorsement (e.g. Ulrika Biesèrt) is vital for legitimacy and uptake
• Providing guidance for both managers and employees, not just top-down policy, is crucial
• Lack of public data on implementation or outcomes limits external evaluation
• External sharing of resources would enhance sector-wide learning and replication
  Success Factors
• Strong leadership from IKEA’s global People & Culture team
• Strategic alignment with inclusion and talent retention priorities
• Consistent internal messaging and values-driven framing
• Sector credibility and cross-reference from other institutions
  Sustainability
• Menopause support embedded in IKEA’s long-term inclusion and wellbeing strategy
• Likely subject to regular review and internal feedback processes (standard in IKEA policy development)
• Designed for global scalability across IKEA retail markets
• Reinforced through continuous internal awareness and corporate communications