UK government urged to launch review of women’s health support at work

The UK government is being urged to take action to help employers invest in supportive policies for menopause, menstruation and fertility challenges as well as pregnancy or baby loss.

While employer support for women’s health issues has seen progress in recent years, research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that only 37 per cent of employers offer provision for pregnancy loss, 26 per cent offer support for fertility issues and 18 per cent support menstrual health challenges.

Women often find themselves facing a choice on health or career, with many women stalling their careers or dropping out of work all together when facing health or reproductive challenges.

The CIPD highlights that men make up nearly half of the UK labour market, but fewer women than men are in employment and they are more likely to be economically inactive.

Now, 28 organisations including the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and CIPD, have penned an open letter to employment minister Alison McGovern urging the government to launch a review of the support for women’s health and reproductive challenges at work, to help organisations retain women, tackle labour shortages and drive productivity.

The letter presses for more government action to help employers invest in supportive policies for menopause, menstruation and fertility challenges as well as pregnancy or baby loss.

Chair of SOM’s Women’s Health at Work Network, Emma Persand, said: “Occupational health is not a luxury or an afterthought – it is the foundation of sustainable productivity and human dignity in the workplace.

Without proper attention to both physical and mental health at work, we witness the consequences ripple across families, communities, and entire industries. It’s time we stop viewing occupational health as a checkbox and start treating it as the strategic necessity it truly is.

“We need urgent, coordinated action from employers, policymakers, and health systems to integrate occupational health into broader public health and labour strategies. This requires genuine investment in preventive care, better enforcement of safety standards, and inclusive policies that protect all workers – regardless of their status or sector.

“If we truly value people, we must act now to ensure every worker has access to safe, healthy, and supportive working conditions.”

The letter urges the government to take action by:

1. Launching a review of workplace support for women’s health and reproductive challenges to identify the economic opportunities for strengthening support, guidance and enforcement of current regulations. This should be followed by an action plan.
2. Launching a high-profile campaign to motivate and give confidence to employers to develop working environments that provide understanding, flexibility and occupational health support for women’s health issues across their working lives.
3. Widening access to occupational health services and other health provision for those in and out of work to support people to remain in, or return to, appropriate work in which they can manage their health.

Senior policy and practice adviser for wellbeing at the CIPD, Rachel Suff, said: “Tackling economic inactivity is a huge priority for the government and key to driving economic growth. But inadequate support for women’s health and reproductive challenges at work means many people feel forced to drop out of the workforce to manage their symptoms.

“With supportive employer policies, better people management support and the opportunity to access specialist occupational health support, we can keep more women in fulfilling and productive work.

“This will not only benefit individuals, by reducing inequality and supporting personal wellbeing, but will also be good for business and the economy by helping retain vital skills that contribute to positive business outcomes.

“We need the government to play its part by reviewing where the gaps in support exist, supporting employers to develop flexible and compassionate workplaces, and widening access to occupational health services.”