The Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing has called for the government to prioritise what it says is “one of the most overlooked challenges in today’s labour market”: women’s wellbeing and health.
The high-profile group of politicians and industry experts got together for a roundtable discussion, hosted in Parliament on the same day that the government announced its full review of parental leave.
Experts included:
Labour MP for Worthing West, Dr Beccy Cooper
Gethin Nadin, Chief Innovation Officer, Benifex
Kate Usher, Founder of Menopause in Business
Joanne Newman, Wellbeing Consultant at the Independent Office for Police Conduct and
The discussion highlighted how menstrual health, fertility struggles, miscarriage, menopause, and unpaid care work continue to take an unspoken toll on women’s careers and wellbeing. it underlined that neglecting these issues isn’t just a failure of wellbeing strategy—it’s an economic risk, reducing productivity, retention, and morale.
Dr Beccy Cooper MP said:
“Women’s health is not just a workplace issue, it’s a public health issue. We cannot close the gender pay gap or boost productivity without making menstrual health, fertility, pregnancy loss, menopause, and overall wellbeing a normal, supported part of everyday working life.”
The “invisible load” women carry
Newman spoke movingly about the health impact on the “sandwich generation” of women balancing full-time work, parenting, and care for aging relatives.
She said:
“The 40-hour work week was created for a totally different society. We need more radical solutions—like a four-day week—to account for the invisible emotional and physical load many women carry daily.”
She warned that simply relying on flexible working or awareness campaigns won’t cut it. With rising levels of stress, burnout, and hormonal health challenges, the need for proactive change is critical.
Menopause Still in the Shadows
Despite increasing public conversation, menopause remains a workplace taboo, said Usher:
“Too often, women who speak up about menopause are belittled, laughed at, or sidelined. We’re losing brilliant, experienced women from the workforce at the height of their capability. That’s a massive loss of talent—and it’s entirely preventable.”
The group cited a recent international study by UCL finding that women lose 10% of their earnings within four years of a menopause diagnosis.
New Guidelines Coming Soon
Insights from the discussion will shape the PLG’s upcoming Employer Duty of Care Guidelines, a practical framework aimed at helping employers embed inclusive, evidence-based wellbeing practices that prioritise women’s health.
Suggested action points included:
- Line manager training on sensitive health conversations
- Scalable HR frameworks that address hormonal health and caregiving responsibilities
- Public and organisational guidance to normalise fertility leave and menopause support
Nadin said:
“There is no such thing as a ‘women’s issue’ at work. These are leadership issues, economic issues, workforce issues. If we want thriving workplaces, we must stop treating women’s health as an optional extra and start seeing it as a strategic priority.”
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