Investing in women’s health at work: A smart business strategy

23/08/24 – Blog

In today’s competitive business environment, investing in employee health and wellbeing is not just a moral obligation but a strategic necessity. One crucial aspect that this investment often overlooks is women’s health.

Women constitute nearly half of the UK workforce, occupying significant roles across all sectors. However, workplace health policies often fail to address the specific needs of female employees, with 36% of women reporting that they felt their employer had not been supportive of female health issues.

With Monday 26th August marking Women’s Equality Day in the US, we thought we’d take the opportunity to join in the celebration by promoting what businesses can do to better support women’s wellbeing in the workplace!


The business case for women’s health investment

Women face unique health challenges that can significantly impact their work performance and overall wellbeing. A survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that 80% of women experience workplace health issues related to menstrual pain, menopause symptoms and reproductive health.

These issues have a ripple effect on businesses and can lead to absenteeism, presenteeism and decreased productivity. In fact, absenteeism due to health-related issues costs UK businesses an estimated £18 billion annually. Investing in women’s health not only improves the quality of life for female employees but also makes smart business sense.

Supporting women’s health in the workplace

There are many ways businesses can support women’s health in the workplace. One crucial thing they can do is create an open dialogue about women’s health issues, for example through running workshops and support groups and introducing manager training to equip leaders with the knowledge and confidence to appropriately support employees.

Additionally, implementing flexible work policies can help women manage symptoms without needing to take time off. Introducing an employee assistance programme can also help empower employees to take charge of their own health by providing them with advice on mental health, nutrition and physical activity and offering crucial support services such as counselling, stress management and crisis intervention.

These measures can all help to enhance workplace comfort, reduce stigma and improve the wellbeing of your female employees.

They also showcase your business’s commitment to health and wellbeing and can help to boost employee satisfaction and retention, which ultimately leads to a healthier, more productive work environment for everyone!

If you want to equip your managers with the knowledge and tools to promote wellbeing and minimise the impact of female-specific health issues within your business, why not take a look at our health training courses? Click here to explore more.

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