Employment minister Alison McGovern has been handed an open letter from 28 leading organisations urging government action on workplace support for women’s health and reproductive challenges, highlighting the economic need for better policies.

The letter, organised by the CIPD and the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), calls for a thorough review of current workplace support systems, arguing that improved health and reproductive support is key to retaining women in the workforce, addressing labour shortages, and enhancing productivity.

"Tackling economic inactivity is a huge priority for the government and key to driving economic growth. But inadequate support for women’s health and reproductive challenges at work means many people feel forced to drop out of the workforce to manage their symptoms," said Rachel Suff, senior policy and practice adviser for wellbeing at the CIPD.

For reward professionals, the letter highlights significant gaps in employer provision across different life stages. While 46% of organisations include menopause support in their health and wellbeing activities, only 37% offer provision for pregnancy loss, 26% for fertility issues, and just 18% for menstrual health challenges.

The consequences of these gaps are substantial. Women, who comprise nearly half of the UK labour market, experience higher rates of economic inactivity than men, with many citing health-related issues as a primary factor in career interruptions or workforce departures.

The letter specifically calls for three key government actions:

1. Launching a review of workplace support for women’s health and reproductive challenges to identify economic opportunities, followed by a concrete action plan 2
   
   
2. Initiating a high-profile campaign to motivate employers to develop understanding, flexible working environments for women’s health issues
   
   
3. Expanding access to occupational health services and other health provisions for people both in and out of work

Emma Persand, chair of SOM’s Women’s Health at Work Network, emphasised the strategic importance of this issue: "Occupational health is not a luxury or an afterthought – it is the foundation of sustainable productivity and human dignity in the workplace... It’s time we stop viewing occupational health as a checkbox and start treating it as the strategic necessity it truly is."

For reward and HR professionals, the letter underscores the need to develop more comprehensive benefits packages and supportive policies that address women’s health across all life stages – from menstruation to menopause – recognising that doing so represents not just a compliance issue but a strategic opportunity to attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive market.

The coalition of signatories includes organisations from key sectors of the UK economy, including construction and retail, demonstrating broad support for this initiative across diverse industries.