Research from Irish Life Health shows that a high percentage of women at work believe that discussing health concerns could negatively impact their careers.
In advance of WellFest, an event highlighting Ireland’s wellness industry that will take place from 10-11 May, insurance provider Irish Life Health has released research which shows that one-third of contributing women fear that discussing gender-specific health issues in the workplace could negatively impact their careers.
The organisation, in collaboration with Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes Research, collected data from 1,103 workers aged 16 and older. With women reporting issues related to menstrual health, fertility, perimenopause and menopause, many stated that their experiences had adversely affected their work performance.
“Despite making up half of the adult population, many women still feel uncomfortable discussing their health concerns at work, often fearing a negative impact on their careers. The evidence is clear, supporting women with their health needs is essential,” said Ann Marie Nestor, the managing director at Irish Life Health.
Additional figures show that 29pc of women opt to take sick leave to deal with gender-specific health issues, with nearly one-fifth choosing to take annual leave in order to better manage it. Young women aged between 16 and 34 are impacted to a higher degree, with 43pc using their sick leave and 31pc taking unpaid leave while experiencing health concerns.
As per the research, only one out of every three employers have policies designed to address women-specific health needs and only 41pc of participating women believe that they receive sufficient support from their place of work. In fact, 44pc explained that they would consider moving to a new organisation if it offered better health support for women.
Also commenting on the figures, Dr Máire Finn, a GP specialising in women’s health stated: “The findings from this research clearly highlight the issues women face when it comes to female health.
“I welcome the opportunity to meet with women at the WellFem tent at WellFest to discuss all areas of female health and hopefully break down some of the taboos unfortunately still associated with female health issues. I would encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about female health or looking for advice, to pop down and speak to one of the many experts who are on-site all weekend.”
We previously spoke with Loretta Dignam, the founder and CEO of The Menopause Hub and Menopause Hub Academy, who told us about the stigma and prejudice many women face in the workplace as they navigate health and their professional careers.
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