An Employer’s Guide to Supporting Women’s Health at Work

Supporting women’s health at work is a critical component of organizational success. In honor of National Women’s Health Month this May, we would like to highlight the top three health challenges impacting working-age women and how employers can address these challenges.

Health Challenge #1: Heart Disease

Quick Facts:

• More than 60 million women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease.¹
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.¹
• Women can develop symptoms at any age, and some may have no symptoms at all.¹

Preventative Care:

• Encourage employees to undergo annual physicals, cholesterol screenings, and heart health screenings.
• Promote healthy eating and movement through wellness programs.

Screenings:

• Blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose testing
• Lifestyle risk factor quizzes/assessments

Employers can play a key role in awareness by sharing warning signs and teaching women to take symptoms seriously. Encourage your employees to take online questionnaires such as this 13-question heart health risk assessment to help them determine their risk factors. If an employee is ever experiencing acute symptoms in the workplace, don't take any chances—call 911 immediately.

Health Challenge #2: Mental Health

Quick Facts:

• 3 out of 4 women aren’t comfortable discussing mental health at work.²
• Many women fear discrimination or job loss if they disclose their mental health challenges.²
• 1 in 10 women have had negative experiences after speaking up about their mental health issues.²

Preventative Care:

• Promote stress management resources and therapy options.
• Create spaces for employees to have open conversations without stigma or judgment.

Screenings:

• Offer access to mental health assessments.
• Encourage participation in Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

Empathy and schedule flexibility can both go a long way in supporting women’s mental health challenges at work. Creating a workplace culture that supports mental health can improve the morale of the entire organization.

Health Challenge #3: Breast Cancer

Quick Facts:

• 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.³
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.³
• A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter, etc.) who has also developed breast cancer.⁴

Preventative Care:

• Early detection through mammograms can significantly increase breast cancer survival rate.
• Encourage workers to speak with their loved ones about any family history of breast cancer.

Screenings:

• Genetic testing for breast cancer risk
• Mammograms

Support goes beyond just health—it also encompasses how women feel at work. Building a workplace environment where women can openly share these health challenges and take time off from work to manage them without guilt or shame can be beneficial for the entire organization.

Many working women are adept at juggling their careers, families and other personal obligations, but this multitasking often causes them to neglect their personal health on a day-to-day basis. According to the McKinsey Health Institute, women spend 25% more time than men in states of poor health, which negatively affects their ability to remain focused and productive at home, in the community, and in the workplace.⁵

Women comprise about 47% of the U.S. workforce.⁶ When organizations overlook the importance of women's health, the impact to their productivity, efficiency, and morale can be significant and far-reaching.

When women can’t prioritize their health, it creates a ripple effect that reaches all parts of their life—including work. One of the most common challenges that female employees face is scheduling conflicts for doctor appointments, which can lead to them working while sick or becoming burned out from a lack of time (or support) to put their health first. When this happens, the McKinsey Health Institute discovered that women experience 60% more lost productivity due to poor health compared to men.⁷

The Role Benefits Play in Women’s Health

According to a study conducted by the Integrated Benefits Institute, 89% of employed American women say that employer benefits influenced their workplace satisfaction.8 Their satisfaction in their benefits can be linked to their overall health, too. When female workers understand that they have access to coverage that can improve their health through preventive care exams like mammograms and cancer screenings, their engagement at work can improve significantly.

Additional key statistics from the study:

• Women ages 30 to 39 had the highest rate of benefit engagement.⁸
• Preventive care was the most commonly used benefit for women.⁸
• Mental health benefits have the strongest correlation to reduced absenteeism.⁸

The Integrated Benefits Institute study also highlighted that, “The findings underscore the critical role women's health benefits play in promoting employee well-being and productivity. Enhanced benefit communication, accessibility, and utilization can lead to improved workplace attendance, engagement, and retention across various industries.”⁸

Better benefits can support women’s health and help employers attract and retain top talent. Strong benefit communication leads to better engagement and retention, which leads to female employees being more engaged and motivated at work. Creating this environment helps send a clear message to women in your workforce that their health is valued all the time, not just during Women’s Health Month.

Companies can support women's health at work by offering health plans that fully cover preventive services like annual physicals, mammograms, cancer screenings and blood pressure checks. However, simply offering these coverage options is not enough; you must also foster a workplace culture where women are encouraged to utilize these benefits.

Supporting women's health at work begins by providing your workforce with the flexibility to seek doctor appointments, preventive care, and mental health counseling when they need it. Routine checkups and early intervention can help women identify potential health challenges—including heart disease, mental health issues, and breast cancer—before they become serious.

Make sure your company has clear and frequent communications that outline the types of coverage that are available to employees. This can be extremely helpful to employees who need help understanding their benefits. When organizations make it easy for employees to understand the coverage and screenings that are available, everyone benefits.

Voluntary benefits can provide additional coverage and protection for all employees. Here are some of the ways voluntary products can provide benefits for the health issues that affect women most:

• Critical Illness Insurance: Offers cash payments to help pay for the out-of-pocket expenses associated with serious diagnoses like heart disease or breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer. Breast cancer coverage may include cash benefits for prosthetics and reconstructive surgery.
• Short-Term Disability: Supports women who need time off for pregnancy complications or childbirth.
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance: Assists with hospital-related costs, including childbirth and neonatal care.

Voluntary benefits like Critical Illness Insurance, Short-Term Disability Insurance and Hospital Indemnity Insurance can provide women with added peace of mind during times of financial uncertainty. By offering these voluntary benefits, employers can show that they understand the real-life challenges that many women face. These offerings can also help women prioritize their health without added financial stress during a difficult time in their lives.

From heart disease and mental health challenges to the everyday stress of balancing work and personal responsibilities, women face unique health challenges that impact their performance, well-being and engagement. That’s why now is the perfect time for employers to start encouraging women to use their benefits and prioritize their health beyond Women’s Health Month!

Investing in women’s health is investing in the future of your company. For more information about how your organization can help prioritize women’s health in the workplace, contact an Allstate Benefits representative to learn more about our voluntary benefits products.