Women’s health: Breaking the taboo
Personal barriers
of respondents agreed that health matters influenced their ability to advance to senior leadership positions.
The issue
Women's health matters, such as fertility treatment and the impact of menopause, can also impact their career progression and until recently have been absent from public and workplace discourse. 17% of respondents agreed that these issues influenced their ability to advance to senior leadership positions.
What our panel said:
While not universally cited, our leadership panel acknowledged that this is an important and evolving area of consideration for businesses.
"Fertility treatment and miscarriage need more support. It’s not just the woman who should be supported, it’s also her partner. Men should not be pushed out of those spaces because the experience can be incredibly upsetting and emotionally draining."
- Cathy Stewart
“Menopause and perimenopause is starting to be spoken about a lot more. Senior women in leadership may need a lot more support, acknowledgment and leeway regarding the symptoms they are going through.”
- Lucy Doubleday
“I love that there is a lot more commentary around menopause and the impact of menopause in the workplace, as there is therefore more awareness of what solutions are in place.”
- Tamara Gillan
“The demand for talent post-Brexit and media celebrity focus, has meant businesses are more aware and catering more for different stages in women’s’ lives. We see businesses offering egg freezing and specific support during IVF, antenatal leave and neonatal care, to attract and retain women. The fundamental shift to flexible working and ability to ask for that on day 1 of your job, facilitates working from home for working parents and enables careers to be continued.”
- Melanie Stancliffe
Action needed
To effectively support women's health and career progression, policies and support systems are crucial. Labour's "Make Work Pay" initiative is a step in the right direction, aiming to strengthen rights to equal pay and protect against maternity and menopause discrimination11. Additionally, the extension of flexible working arrangements and accessible healthcare will play a significant role in enabling women to manage their health while pursuing their careers.
By addressing these topics head-on and implementing supportive policies and initiatives, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate business landscape that empowers women to reach their full potential.
11 Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering A New Deal for Working People, labour.org.uk, p.1