Editorial TeamIt’s no secret that there is a massive gender gap in any industry. Many businesses intentionally or unintentionally provide more benefits to men than to women, especially when we talk about health. Many people of both sexes do not fully understand how the woman’s body works and what health issues women can experience that men cannot.
However, there appears to be a shift in the culture inside many businesses, and people are getting educated. More and more people today understand how a menstrual cycle works and what it does to a woman’s body. And thus, people are now aware of all the health risks women are prone to have due to their biology.
Raising Awareness
With social media being so developed and popular, women are jumping on the trend of explaining how their bodies work. Not only that, but women are raising awareness of various women’s health issues. In the past few years, women have been mostly silent regarding their health, but thanks to the internet, awareness has been raised. Women’s health issues, such as menopause, infertility, endometriosis, and post-natal depression, are easily treatable, but no one talks about them. Luckily, today, people are speaking up and educating others on what those health issues entail and what consequences and risks they leave on women.
For example, in the UK, one in 10 women leaves their work due to the severity of menopause symptoms. Additionally, in the UK, in “Vision for Women’s Health Strategy,” they have found that almost half of employers do not have policies to support their workers who are going through IVF treatment. And it was found that more than half of women feel uncomfortable talking about their symptoms to their managers and supervisors and how their menopause symptoms affect their work performance.
In the US, the situation is very similar. Four in 10 women have reported that menopause has affected their work performance. Also, almost 20% have quit their job or considered doing so due to menopause symptoms. Even though many businesses focus on well-being and physical and mental health, they are majorly neglecting women’s health specifically.
There are no reasonable adjustments for employees with painful periods, menopause, and endometriosis. Plus, these women’s health issues have caused absences from work which even widened an existing pay gap. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but raising awareness and businesses adjusting their policies must be taken.
Training and Education
The past few years have raised awareness and more understanding of women’s health issues. Businesses, too, are starting to be more aware of these. Some businesses even offer training to approach conversations about women’s health issues and symptoms. These topics are sensitive and effective conversations are a great step towards open communication and creating a safe working space for everyone. It is essential to get rid of the stigma and incorporate productive and effective discussions on sensitive and personal health condition topics.
Companies are even starting to host well-being sessions where employees can safely share their stories. Some advocate an open-door policy and communication programs to help employees share their issues and not suffer in silence. People and employers should never make assumptions about someone’s health or even push them to discuss things they are uncomfortable with. However, they can create safe spaces where employees can share and show them that they are understood and not alone.
More Flexibility
The last two years have shown us the benefits of flexible working hours. If it is not already common to have flexible working hours in a certain business, employers can offer this as a reasonable adjustment. Flexible working hours have been a major game changer for many women going through menopause that have to take care of their children and parents. Some progress has been made, but we still have some ways to go.
For example, Spain is introducing three days of unpaid menstrual leave every month, with a provision for another two days in some extreme cases. Other EU and US countries could adopt the same legislation. A Fertility Treatment Bill has been proposed in the US, giving women and couples the right to time off to go to fertility clinic appointments. And many countries around the world are watching the progress of this bill with a lot of interest.
Even though awareness for women’s health has been raised, many businesses are yet to implement their adjustments. We are on the right track, but we still have a long way to go.
Eve Anderson is a marketing specialist turned blogger interested in sports and exciting travel destinations. Eve loves to share content that can inform people.