Women may pay a higher price for taking leave, research indicates

Women may pay a higher price for taking leave, research indicates

Summary

A report from Standard Insurance Company, summarised by HR Dive, finds women are more likely than men to take extended leave and suffer greater negative impacts on finances, emotional health and careers. In a survey of 5,000 workers, 53% of women took a leave of one month or more versus 47% of men. While 61% of women said employers accommodate pregnancy, only 44% felt supported for wider women’s health issues. Many women reported financial harm (59%) and emotional harm (36%) from taking leave; mental health was a common reason for leave and for not returning to work.

Key Points

• Women take extended leave more often than men (53% vs 47% in the survey).
• Only 44% of women say their employer accommodates broader women’s health issues beyond pregnancy.
• Taking leave has negative financial effects for 59% of women and negative emotional effects for 36%.
• Mental health is a major reason for taking leave and is a top factor in not returning to work.
• Employer accommodations (flexible returns, mental health benefits, clear communications) reduce negative impacts on productivity and finances.

Author note

Punchy: this isn’t just another stat story — it flags a clear gap employers can fix. The research ties leave policies directly to retention, productivity and wellbeing, so HR teams ignoring this are missing low-hanging fruit.

Context and relevance

The findings come at a time when workforce wellbeing, flexibility and gender equality are central to talent strategies. UN Women and other reports stress flexible working as essential for gender parity; meanwhile, employers face increasing pressure to address menopause, fertility and mental-health needs. For organisations aiming to retain female talent and avoid hidden costs, improving leave policies, return-to-work programmes and benefits communication is directly relevant.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you care about keeping women in your workforce (and saving money), read this. It tells you where your leave policies are probably failing and gives practical ideas — clear comms, paid mental-health days, reintegration plans — that actually move the needle. We read it so you don’t have to — but you should act on it.

Source

Source: https://www.hrdive.com/news/women-may-pay-a-higher-price-for-taking-leave/804492/