Let's talk about Women's Health and Wellbeing at Work - Lindsay Randerson, Women's Health Coach

Do you have a moment to chat? Not right now. Why?

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve gone to work when YOU KNOW you should be at home, but you’ve got so much to do you’ve headed into the office anyway? You don’t want to let anyone down so you’re sitting at your desk in pain, trying to block the feeling out of your mind whilst you struggle through the endless “to-do” list, numerous tasks are piling up and your manager doesn’t have an off switch.

You know your manager is also under pressure, you don’t want to burden them, and you are embarrassed to tell them you are experiencing cramping and pain brought on by heavy bleeding.

When you finally summon up the courage to pull them aside

Do you have a moment to chat? they reply “Not right now why”?

The Unseen Struggles

For many women, the workplace can be a challenging space to navigate. Often feeling overlooked for promotions, the pressure to keep up with the demands of a job which for many has changed over the past few years, juggling family time and trying to squeeze in a few sessions at the gym so it ticks a “me-time” box together with prioritising ongoing health issues. It’s mentally, emotionally and physically draining. Many women may find themselves hesitating to speak up about personal challenges at work and quite rightly. The fear of being vulnerable in a space that doesn’t embrace vulnerability but rewards productivity hinders professional growth and personal well-being.

One aspect that demands our attention is the need for managers to be more than just task-oriented leaders. In their role as managers, they play a pivotal role in shaping the work environment. Managers must move beyond the sole focus of driving volume, sales and growth and instead prioritize listening skills, making time to check in with co-workers and strive to create an environment that feels safe, inclusive and supportive for team members. Driving successful companies not only relies on a strategy for growth but in my opinion, requires a health strategy too. If companies rely on humans to deliver a product or service then health should be at the heart of your business growth. We talk of sustainable companies, ethical marketing, core values, yet we are fundamentally missing the most important sustainable strategy of all.

Breaking the Silence on Women's Health

Encouraging  women to enter the workforce is not just about recruitment; it's about creating an environment where they feel supported and understood. Imagine a workforce able to nurture healthy environments, managers were self-aware, compassionate, understood their responses under stress and harnessed individual creativity, fostering work environments that allowed vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. This involves addressing the unique challenges that women face throughout their careers, from menstruation to gynaecological conditions and menopause. How many managers feel equipped to speak with ease on these subjects?

A key step towards fostering a workplace that truly values women's health is for managers to become allies. This means dedicating time and energy to listen, understand, and empathize with the personal challenges that they may encounter. The workplace should be a safe space where they feel comfortable discussing health concerns without the fear of repercussions.

Bridging the Managerial Gap

Managers hold a significant position in influencing workplace culture. To create a more supportive environment, it is essential to bridge the managerial gap, this goes beyond merely filling out forms and ticking boxes; it involves training and guidance to educate and foster empathy among the entire team.

By acknowledging and addressing these issues, managers can contribute to a workplace culture that prioritizes women's health and well-being. This includes offering actionable, simple strategies, ongoing support, General awareness sessions, Managers’ masterclasses, wellbeing champion training and providing resources for coaching, health-related support and ensuring that promotions are based on merit rather than biased perceptions.

Embracing Empathy

Ultimately, fostering a workplace that supports women's health is not just a task but a cultural shift. It requires empathy, understanding, and open dialogue as well as harnessing boundaries, re-prioritising expectations and switching to an inclusive experience for all. When managers have the support and guidance to prioritize the personal well-being of their team members, it creates positive personal growth that ripples throughout the workplace nurturing a happier, rested, trusting workforce that extends beyond the workplace and into the broader community.

 let's strive to create workplaces where women feel valued, supported, and empowered to navigate both their personal and professional lives. The workplace landscape is changing and resilience, ambition, self-worth, self-belief and confidence grow from an environment of trust and honesty.

It’s time to recognize and embrace the unique challenges that women face and support managers with the tools, strategies and confidence to make these adjustments that can play a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive and dynamic work environment.

Find out more - talk to our team