AUTHOR: Ruby Relton BSc MSc
The importance of employee wellbeing continues to grow in the corporate world focusing on work-life balance, mental health and enhanced access to medical support. However, reproductive health benefits are only starting to gain traction and only within the most progressive workplaces. To be a conscious 21st-century employer, it is critical to make sure that women (half of the workforce in the UK) feel supported and cared for in the workplace.
This first article in the “Being a 21st Century Employer” Hertility Series, breaks down the role that hormones play in female reproductive health, how these affect women in the workplace and how employers can help and create a supportive environment.
What you need to know about … hormones?
Hormones are in charge of so many processes in the workings of a female body and this is exactly why looking after your hormonal health can help enhance different aspects of your life, including mood and productivity.
Yet, if things are out of balance, quality of life and the ability to function in the workplace can be affected… and not in a positive way! Symptoms as a result of hormone imbalances or even hormone imbalances themselves can impact mental health and wellbeing. Many individuals find that infertility, often caused by unexpected changes in hormone levels, “totally disrupts work in every way”.
If identified early, hormones can be put in check with lifestyle changes, hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy depending on the diagnosis. The problem arises if things are left unchecked – for instance, a common reproductive health condition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) increases the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer and depression.
How can you support your employees to take charge of their hormone health?
Prioritising your employee’s reproductive health can help you differentiate from other companies fiercely recruiting talent in the market. These perks are on the way to becoming integral to ensuring employee loyalty, engagement and motivation.
Here are a few steps you can take to make your company more hormone-friendly:
1. Provide educational training to your managers and employees to open up the conversation about reproductive health.
2. Highlight hormonal imbalances and infertility as occupational health issues by normalising conversations within the workplace.
3. Creating infertility-informed policies such as flexibility for medical appointments or the provision of hormone and fertility testing.
4. Adapting the workplace environment to suit the needs of employees, for example, adjustable temperature and humidity controls.
5. Educate yourself on your employee’s needs and priorities with regards to their reproductive health and wellbeing.
6. Most importantly, provide reimbursed or subsidised hormone health testing from a trusted clinically endorsed partner as part of your employee benefits package.
Hertility Health is a key player in driving change, opening up the conversation about reproductive health and fertility but also enabling individuals to take a proactive and not just a reactive approach to their health.
Employers that put in place policies that help employees to take care of their hormone health and enable an open and proactive approach to ensure these conditions are dealt with and spoken about are employers which are forward-thinking, inclusive and engaged with their workforce.
Hertility Benefits for Your Workforce
Hertility Health partners with leading companies to deliver world-class reproductive health benefits and improve access to reproductive healthcare and education. We believe in personalised plans – for you and your employees – and offer a range of corporate plans and coverage options to suit your needs, from educational workshops, to female health assessments and consultations with in-house experts. We provide DE&I impact reports, so you can see the tangible impact on your workforce and your bottom line.
To learn more about our Reproductive Health Education and Benefits for Employers, reach out to [email protected], or visit our website.