The State of Women’s Health in the Workplace

Business Implications: Why Employers Must Act

This report highlights a critical missed opportunity: the health of female employees is directly tied to organizational performance. Ignoring women's health results in:

Reduced Productivity: 70% of respondents lost 1-5 days of work in the past month due to unsupported health issues.
Higher Turnover: Talented women leave or plateau because "pushing through pain" becomes unsustainable.
Increased Costs: Delayed diagnosis leads to more expensive, acute interventions later.

The ROI of Support: Investing in women's health is not just a benefit—it is a strategic imperative that unlocks innovation, retention, and engagement.

Executive Summary

Women are vital to the growth of any organization—but their needs are of particular import in the healthcare sector where they constitute 80% of the workforce. This report reveals critical gaps in corporate support and lays out opportunities for companies to set themselves apart through meaningful action.

The Problem: Misdiagnosis & Delays

Women are 20-30% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and are diagnosed on average four years later than men across 770 diseases. This is due to a medical standard often rooted in male-centric data.

Heart Attacks: Women are 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed because their symptoms differ from the male standard.
Adverse Drug Reactions: Women are more likely to report side effects as they metabolize certain drugs differently.

"I’ve been told many times that I didn’t display symptoms normally associated with [a condition], only to find, after testing, that I had it." — Survey Respondent

Workplace Impact: The "Gender Health Tax"

Single women in the U.S. spend 6.8% of their income on health insurance compared to 3.9% for single men. Between ages 45-64, women's direct healthcare expenditures are 21% higher.

Conditions like endometriosis, migraines, and menopause affect ability to work, yet fear of stigma keeps women silent.

"I hesitate to bring up my health challenges... discussing women’s health issues may just give employers a reason to justify the wage gap." — Survey Respondent

Recommendations

1. Centralize Resources

Create a dedicated space for all benefits related to women’s health. 76% of employees want a navigation tool to help them understand their coverage.

2. Redefine "Women's Health"

Move beyond maternity. Address autoimmune conditions, pelvic floor dysfunction, and menopause as core health pillars.

3. Invest in Listening

Use tools to map employee needs against existing benefits to identify and close gaps.

Global Context

UK: £11 billion annual loss due to absenteeism from women's health issues.
Australia: 1 in 25 women delay healthcare due to cost.
Switzerland: Women pay ~12% more for supplementary insurance.
Canada: 60% of working women report health issues as obstacles to career growth.