The ongoing neglect of women’s health at work is costing UK plc to the tune of £20.2bn a year.
This is according to a report from Axa Health in partnership with the Centre of Economics and Business Research (Cebr) which surveyed 2,000 individuals.
The report also found that despite 68% of women reporting having faced health issues at some point in their career, almost a third (29%) also felt their employers were not supportive.
This figure jumped to 36% when it came to women-specific health matters such as endometriosis, fertility, menopause and periods.
The fear of hindering career growth (46%) and being forced to leave the workforce prematurely (48%) ranked among the top concerns for women.
Personal finances also affected
But beyond the economic impact, personal finances were also affected, with 83% of women having felt the effects in some way.
For example, over half (52%) had to take time off work, nearly a quarter said they missed out on promotion (22%), and one in five settled for lower pay (20%).
Impact on wellbeing
But adverse impacts were not just financial, with women’s wellbeing also taking a knock – nine in 10 (90%) reported having struggled emotionally during this time.
Almost half (46%) have gone through times of feeling helpless, more than one in four (43%) experienced reduced motivation at work, and a third (31%) felt they lost their independence (31%).
And some even became financially dependent on their partner (19%).
The part-time penalty
Women working part-time had particular concerns when it came to addressing their health-related issues, surpassing the worries of their full-time peers.
For instance, 61% were anxious about having to prematurely exit the workplace, exceeding the average by 19 percentage points.
Additionally, more than half (52%) feared that their career progression will be hindered, rising to 64% among those who work less than eight hours a week.
Just 17% of women who work full time felt that discussions about women’s health were not supported in their workplaces, but this increased to almost a quarter (23%) among those employed part-time.
Incremental improvements
However, when it came to support for women-specific health needs in the workplace, many women reported having seen improvements over time.
But over a third still believed women’s health was not a priority, indicating there is more work to be done.
Those who saw the most strides forward were often aged over 55, indicating changes have occurred over time.
This age group also led the charge in terms of comfort levels when it came to discussing women-specific health matters at work, surpassing the average by 12 percentage points.
Conversely, women aged 25 to 34 lagged behind and were 25% more uncomfortable on average to speak out.
Positive developments among significant neglect of women’s health
Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, deputy chief medical officer at Axa Health, said: “While companies certainly still have a way to go in addressing women’s health at work, there is promise in the increased willingness of women to discuss their health concerns with colleagues and managers.
“For example, our women’s health report found that 60% of women who talked about their health found their employers to be supportive, whether this be through time off, offering counselling or making adaptations to the workplace.
“These developments are positive, but as we delve further into the findings, it becomes evident that concerns extend beyond just health issues.
“A striking 53% of the women we surveyed voiced that, within their workplaces, women often shoulder more unplanned responsibilities – such as caring for loved ones – than their male counterparts.
“Furthermore, when reflecting on their own families, 39% of respondents revealed that they bear a greater burden than male family members when it came to unexpected caring responsibilities. This gender-based imbalance in unpaid labour not only perpetuates inequality but also places women at risk of being side lined in their careers, overlooked for promotions, or compelled to work beneath their true potential.
“Forward strides may be being made, but the economic impact of neglecting women’s health is still significant, emphasising the need for more education, robust workplace policies, and talent retention initiatives.”
Serious economic oversight
Flick Drummond MP, who serves as the co-chair of the APPG on Women and Work and is actively championing Axa’s efforts to drive meaningful, transformative change within both corporate entities and society at large, added: “As this report finds, neglecting the health of women in our workplaces isn’t just a matter of compassion; it’s a serious economic oversight.
“The government’s Women’s Health Strategy is visionary, and we need to work together to effectively fund and safeguard the 10-year plan into the future.
“As we approach the Autumn statement, I am committed to working with my government colleagues to ensure this is the case.”