The health of women in the workplace and the responsibilities of their employers will be the focus of a special seminar taking place in Liverpool.
Hosted by Morecrofts Solicitors and the Women’s Organisation, the session will explore the key health issues facing working women and the duty of their employers to ensure they receive fair treatment and equal opportunities.
Topics under discussion at the breakfast event, which takes place on Wednesday 29 March, will include pregnancy and maternity, flexible working, menopause and menstrual leave.
Charles Millett, employment law partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, will lead the event. He said:
“In its recently published Women’s Health Strategy, the government has highlighted the importance of addressing women’s health in the workplace as a priority for employers, especially in small businesses and organisations.
“For many employers, there remains much confusion over their obligations on matters such as flexible working or time off to care for dependants, while issues such as menopause leave are more in focus than ever before.
“The seminar will discuss how employers can ensure that women are treated fairly from a health perspective, enabling them to achieve their maximum potential, both for their own benefit and for the benefit of their employers.”
Lisa McMullan, director for development and consultancy at the Women’s Organisation, said:
“There are some 5.47 million SMEs in UK employing 12.9 million people where almost half are women; and almost 4 million of those women are aged 45-55. Research shows that 25% of these women consider giving up work because of menopause symptoms; and they estimated that almost 1 million have left the workplace due to menopausal symptoms.
“We are seeking to inform and enable SMEs all over the UK to effectively support employees experiencing reproductive health issues, so seminars like these, are vital for raising awareness and improving keeping women’s workplace experience.”
The Women’s Organisation is supported by the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund, part of a partnership programme between Department of Health & Social Care, NHS England and UK Health Security Agency.
For more information or to register for the event, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-health-in-the-workplace-what-sme-employers-need-to-know-tickets-55101