How Supporting Women’s Wellness Can Increase Workplace Productivity, Morale, and Creativity
By: Abidemi Marsh
Despite the many advances made in recent years to promote gender equality in the workplace, women still face unique challenges in maintaining their health and well-being. From managing menstrual symptoms and beginning a family to caring for elderly parents or dealing with menopause, women’s wellness needs are often different from those of their male counterparts.
That’s why it’s so important for employers to create a workplace culture that supports women’s wellness. Supporting women’s wellness in the workplace can significantly impact productivity, morale, and even company culture.
So why should you care about women’s wellness in the workplace? Here are a few good reasons:
- Women make up a large percentage of the workforce. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 47% of the workforce. That means supporting women’s workplace wellness can significantly impact your business.
- Women are more likely than men to experience specific health problems, such as anxiety and depression. This means they may need extra support to stay healthy and productive at work.
- Women are more likely to take time off work for caregiving responsibilities. This can lead to lost productivity and disruptions in the workplace.
There are many benefits to promoting women’s wellness in the workplace. For starters, it can help to close the gender wage gap. In addition, healthier employees are more productive employees. When everyone in the workforce can reach their full potential, it can lead to better results for businesses and organizations.
But promoting women’s wellness in the workplace is about more than just improving business outcomes. It’s also about creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment. And it’s about supporting the health and well-being of all employees.
So how can you support women’s wellness in your workplace? Here are a few tips.
[Related: How to Audit Your Company for Unconscious Bias]
Offer flexible work arrangements.
Flexible work arrangements can be a great way to support employees who have family or other personal commitments outside of work.
By offering flexible options like telecommuting, compressed work weeks, or flexible start/end times, employers can help employees better manage their time and reduce stress.
Provide on-site health services.
On-site health services like childcare, lactation support, or health screenings can help employees save time and money while also promoting wellness. These services can also help reduce absenteeism and increase employee productivity.
Encourage physical activity.
A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, so it’s important to encourage employees to be physically active. Employers can promote physical activity by providing on-site exercise facilities or hosting company-wide fitness challenges.
Offer healthy food options.
Healthy eating is essential for maintaining good health, so it’s important to offer healthy food options at work. This could include having a salad bar in the cafeteria or providing healthy snacks in the break room. Employers could also consider holding cooking classes or nutrition seminars to help employees learn more about eating healthy on a budget.
Provide mental health support.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet too often, it is overlooked. Employers can help support employees’ mental health by offering resources like an employee assistance program, stress management training, or mental health screenings.
Host wellness workshops and events.
There are many ways to approach wellness workshops and events in the workplace. One approach would be to focus on specific health topics, such as nutrition, stress management, or physical activity. Alternatively, you could organize a series of events covering various topics, such as health and wellness, financial planning, and work-life balance.
By supporting women’s wellness in the workplace, employers can create a healthier and more productive workforce.
There are many good reasons to support women’s wellness in the workplace. Here are just a few.
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Improved physical health.
When women are physically healthier, they tend to be more productive and take fewer sick days. Supporting women’s workplace wellness can lead to improved productivity and decreased absenteeism.
Improved mental health.
Women who feel supported in their workplace are more likely to feel happy and satisfied with their jobs. This, in turn, leads to improved mental health and increased productivity.
Decreased stress levels.
When women feel supported in their workplaces, they tend to feel less stressed. This can lead to improved concentration, decision-making, and increased productivity.
Improved work/life integration.
When women have access to support for their wellness at work, they tend to have an easier time achieving a healthy work/life integration. This can lead to increased productivity and improved physical and mental health.
There are many benefits to supporting women’s wellness in the workplace. Women who feel supported and have access to resources for maintaining their health are more likely to be productive and creative in their work. Businesses that support women’s wellness send a strong signal to their female employees that they are valued members of the team. This can lead to increased morale and retention of top talent.
By supporting women’s wellness in the workplace, businesses can improve employee productivity, lower healthcare costs, and create a more positive work environment.
[Related: Tired of Feeling Tired at Work? Three Practical Tips to Power Up.]
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Through her Woman On Fire and Motherhood2Memopause brands, Abidemi Marsh empowers organizations to support women through all stages and changes, and women how to be better advocates for themselves from the bedroom to the boardroom.
Originally published at https://www.ellevatenetwork.com on November 30, 2022.
