Gender health gap has ‘profound impact’ on working women- report

The gender health gap has a “profound impact” on Canadian working women, new research has found.

Women are essential to the Canadian economy and make up close to half of Canada’s workforce. However, a report by Sun Life has shown 60 per cent of working women said health issues around menstruation, menopause and reproductive health could affect their career advancement abilities.

The research has found that four in 10 working women in Canada said they had made career-limiting decisions for health-related concerns or to care for their family and one in 10 said they had considered leaving their job due to menopausal symptoms.

Almost 30 per cent of working women felt the need to lie to their managers about why they were taking sick days for women’s health issues, the findings have also suggested.

“While we’ve seen progress breaking through the glass ceiling, support for women’s health issues continues to lack,” said Marie-Chantal Côté, senior vice-president, Group Benefits, Sun Life.

“We need more awareness and open dialogue. Talking about women’s health should be as comfortable as discussing back pain.

“The gender health gap affects not only women but their workplaces and society at large. Prioritising women’s health should be table stakes,” she added.

Being proactive and supportive of women’s health is crucial for employers. This can help retain talent, increase productivity, and decrease costs related to absences and leaves.

However, just 37 per cent of women said their employer provided adequate resources and support for their health needs. Additionally, only 42 per cent of working women said there was an open culture for talking about women’s health at work.

Helena Pagano, executive vice-president and chief people and culture officer at Sun Life, said: “We started hosting employee awareness sessions about women’s health and the response has been tremendous. What I hear from everyone, including men, is how illuminating it is to learn about the challenges the women in their lives face.

“We firmly believe in supporting women’s health at Sun Life. Workplaces play a vital role, from offering inclusive benefits to mental health support to hybrid work environments.

“Supporting people in all of life’s moments empowers them to thrive. The gender health gap is a solvable problem that benefits everyone.”