Women’s Workplace Wellness

In today’s busy and competitive business world, taking care of employee health is more important than ever. However, women’s workplace health often gets overlooked, which has serious consequences for both employees and businesses. The UK loses a staggering 150 million working days every year because of poor women’s health and a lack of proper support, according to the ONS. This issue is especially tough for smaller employers, like SMEs and third-sector organisations, which lack the resources that larger companies and public bodies have to handle these challenges. 

Women make up nearly half of the workforce, playing vital roles in every sector, and SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, with over 5.5 million small businesses employing fewer than 50 people. Ignoring women’s health not only affects their physical, mental, and economic wellbeing but also costs the UK economy £20.2 billion annually in lost productivity. 

 

A Platform to Support Women’s Workplace Wellness

The Women’s Workplace Wellness Platform supports SMEs and VCSE organisations by increasing knowledge and encouraging better practices around women’s health.  By focusing on improving women’s workplace experiences, reducing absences, and preventing them from leaving the workforce, this platform boosts productivity, supports economic growth, and reduces pressure on healthcare services. Investing in women’s health is not just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business strategy for a healthier, more productive future. 

So far more than 5000 people have had active engagement with the Platform, with over 1200 business and VCSE organisations engaged in the training.   The resource suite and training programme already delivers real impact with 94% reporting changes in knowledge and attitude in the workplace and 78% reporting immediate, tangible changes in their organisation.  What a success!  

Access the resources 

The Platform includes learning resources; an online workplace training programme designed to embed women’s workplace wellness into SME culture and operations through accredited training; and a curated and focused knowledge bank.   

Support expanded access and vital research into this health inequality 

The Women’s Organisation is now seeking support to maintain the Women’s Workplace Wellness Platform as a free resource and to expand access across England.  We have an ambition to continue free access for the VCSE sector, enabling these vital organisations to enhance their support for colleagues and retain experienced staff.   Funding could enable greater expansion of support for women who experience intersectional disadvantage (especially Black, minority ethnic, and differently-abled women), who research shows are more likely to leave employment when experiencing a women’s health issue.  

Alongside significant impact on individuals and organisations, the Women’s Workplace Wellness Platform is already generating research insights and data illustrating the impact of health inequalities, and how women’s health experiences and intersectional disadvantage operate in practice, with both employers and healthcare provision.   We would therefore welcome a partnership with a research-led funding body.   

For a confidential discussion please contact hello@thewo.org.uk. 

We are grateful for development funding from the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund, a partnership programme between Department of Health & Social Care, NHS England, and UK Health Security Agency. 

Please Note: This workplace training and wellness course has been designed to help organisations to support women’s health in their workplace. It is not intended to be a source of medical information. We are not medically trained and therefore cannot answer individual medical enquiries either during the programme, over the telephone, by post or via email. If you or any of your colleagues have a health worry, your first port of call should be your GP (doctor) or you could contact NHS 111.