Health equality | UK loses 150 million working days due to lack of workplace support for women's health

The UK is losing 150 million working days a year due to a lack of workplace support for women’s health, new research has revealed.

Published as part of a new campaign launched by affordable healthcare provider Benenden Health – in partnership with the Fawcett Society and Cherry Healey – the study shines a light on the gender health gap in the UK in a bid to break down the barriers that lead to poorer health outcomes for women in the workplace.

Benenden Health’s study revealed that women in the UK miss an average of nine days of work a year due to health issues, exacerbated by a lack of appropriate healthcare support for female workers.

It was also revealed that four in ten (42%) have heard derogatory comments about a female employee’s health in the workplace, often around them taking time off work, being difficult to work with or not able to do their job properly. Not surprisingly, this has left many women reluctant to discuss their health issues with managers, with almost half (42%) feeling uncomfortable doing so.