UK: Women’s Health and Employee Benefits
Howden calls on employers to prioritize women’s health and wellbeing ahead of new legislation.
On International Women’s Day Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing issued a call to action for employers to address women’s health and wellbeing in anticipation of forthcoming family-focused legislation being introduced in April.
Since its inception in 1911, International Women’s Day has marked progress towards gender equality. However, disparities persist in workplaces, and Howden highlights how employers can play a key role in building inclusivity by supporting women’s health and wellbeing.
Recent research shows key issues to address. The World Health Organization and McKinsey recently published a report that highlights that despite living longer, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. The report also found that addressing the women’s health gap could potentially boost the global economy by more than $1 trillion annually by 2040.
Historically, women’s health concerns, including periods, fertility, and menopause, have often been marginalized or addressed superficially in the wake of media attention.
However, with impending family-focused legislation like the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 and the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, alongside recent guidelines from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on menopause, there is an opportunity for employers to take proactive measures to address women’s health, such as developing a comprehensive employee benefits and wellbeing strategy that caters to the diverse needs of women of all ages.
Howden also published this downloadable report about supporting women’s health that you can share with your clients.
If you need support with employee benefits in the UK, please contact Asinta, and we will connect you with the local experts at Howden.