Women being failed by the place they work in

In sectors like care, cleaning, and health services – all disproportionately staffed by women – the risks are higher, protections weaker, and ill health all too common. It is no surprise that long-term sickness rates among women are climbing. Nationally, 1.5 million women are now off work due to ill health. Behind every statistic is a story of someone struggling to stay in work while managing chronic pain, mental ill health or conditions worsened by exposure at work.

We are witnessing a worsening crisis in women’s health at work. Whether it’s the rise in breast cancer linked to shift patterns, the lack of protective policies for reproductive health, or the staggering underreporting of work-related illness among women, the evidence is clear – this is not just a health problem, it’s an equality issue. Yet our systems – including the law – often fail to acknowledge it. While we require accidents to be reported, we don’t properly track or respond to workplace illnesses, or the mental and physical harm caused by violence and abuse.

Poverty is compounding the problem. It is shameful that in 2025, there are 3.2 million children living in poverty in working households across the UK – many in the North East. Parents working full-time should not have to choose between paying the rent and buying the next meal. Poor pay, insecure jobs and inadequate sick pay force people into impossible decisions: work while ill or fall into poverty. This has a knock-on effect on health outcomes and deepens existing inequalities.

For women – especially those juggling caring responsibilities with work – the risks are multiplied. Working multiple jobs, doing unpaid care work at home, and taking on physically demanding roles all take their toll. Yet too often, women’s health is still seen as a personal problem rather than a structural failure of systems and policies.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We need increased awareness, early intervention, decent sick pay, access to occupational health support, and meaningful changes in job design and workplace culture. The government’s Make Work Pay agenda will improve standards at work and start us on the journey to addressing these entrenched problems.

We also need employers to take responsibility for the health of their workforce – not just to prevent accidents, but to protect wellbeing over the long term. The Better Health At Work Award, coordinated by the regional TUC, is working with stakeholders to produce a dedicated Women’s Health in the Workplace Toolkit, focusing on the core priorities identified in the Women’s Health Strategy.

Crucially, we need public investment that values workers' health, not just productivity. Poverty is not inevitable. Nor is ill health at work. With the right political will, we can build healthier, fairer workplaces – and a society that truly supports women to thrive.

Originally published 14 April 2025, Chronicle Live