RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - April 25 - Flipbook - Page 17
The unique challenges women face
in the workplace
Employees' personal circumstances strongly
in昀氀uence their work performance. Coping with
challenges like a sleepless night caused by a sick
child or 昀椀nancial stress at home can make it tough
for sta昀昀 to perform at their best while handling
personal hardships.
For women in the workplace, these struggles often
have a distinct gendered dimension and frequently
go unnoticed.
Deloi琀琀e’s Women @ Women 2024 report surveyed
over 5,000 women from 10 countries, revealing
that menstrual disorders, menopause and fertility
challenges are impacting women at work, but many
feel unable to take time o昀昀 or seek support.
"27% of women don’t feel comfortable
speaking up about personal issues related to
menstruation, menopause or fertility at work."
Source: Deloi琀琀e
Regre琀琀ably, many women feel that addressing
these issues in the workplace could harm their
careers. As a result, they often endure pain and
discomfort silently, which can further deteriorate
their overall wellbeing.
Women dealing with fertility-related health
challenges—such as struggles with conception,
high-risk pregnancies, or miscarriages—share
similar experiences. Research shows that three
out of ten women have continued working despite
severe pain or symptoms, and nearly two out of ten
have taken leave without disclosing the true reason.
Unfortunately, women's wellbeing at work is
in昀氀uenced by more than just physical health
challenges. Additional factors include:
Mental health challenges
Over half of women report higher stress levels
compared to a year ago. Many feel they lack
adequate employer support and are uncomfortable
discussing mental health issues in the workplace.
Safety concerns
Nearly 50% of women are worried about their
personal safety at work, particularly during
commutes or while travelling for job-related tasks.
Expanding caregiving responsibilities
Research from WGEA shows that 12% of Australian
women identify as carers, with women making up
70% of primary caregivers. Increasingly, they are
supporting a wider range of family members, from
children to ageing parents. Unsurprisingly, women
with greater domestic responsibilities report poorer
mental health and 昀椀nd it harder to focus on their
careers.
In addition, recent research shows that poor mental
health (particularly depression and anxiety) is
associated with lost productivity in the workforce
due to a rise in absenteeism and presenteeism.
