Managers need more training in women’s health

Many HR professionals don’t have confidence in their organisation’s managers when it comes to having the right training or resources in women’s health.

Few believe that managers are therefore able to provide the right support around endometriosis and other menstrual health topics.

That’s according to a new study by the charity Endometriosis UK and HR software provider Ciphr.

Women’s health in the workplace

Over 100 HR professionals and leaders were surveyed on a range of topics, including endometriosis – a disease that impacts 1 in 10 women and can cause severe pelvic pain. It is a long-term condition that can take both a physical and emotional toll on sufferers.

However, UK employers are significantly less likely to have menstrual health policies (11%) than mental health (57%) or peri/menopause policies (48%).

Just 21% of employers record information about how many of their employees have a diagnosed or suspected menstrual health condition, like endometriosis.

Lack of support for employees living with menstrual health conditions

Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, believes that employers should be troubled by many of the report’s findings.

She said, “It’s concerning that these results reveal such a wide gap in organisational awareness and readiness to support employees living with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions. When managers are perceived as unapproachable or ill-equipped to respond with empathy and understanding, organisations risk sidelining the needs of a significant part of their workforce.

“HR teams have a vital role to play in changing this. Managers must be empowered to support their people holistically, not just in terms of performance and KPIs, but in their health and wellbeing too. That means investing in training, implementing flexible policies, signposting resources, and fostering open, compassionate conversations about health.”

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